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Google's patented flypaper-like hood aims to protect pedestrians upon crash


Google has lots of patents for products you never imagined. Just on Tuesday, it was granted a patent for an adhesive surface on the front of a car that works just like flypaper. The patent claims that the sticky layer on the hood will prevent pedestrians from bouncing off the cars if hit. It sounds crazy, but it's addressing a serious issue.

The patent was actually filed with Google's self-driving cars in mind, but it also says it could be used on any type of vehicle.

"Ideally, the adhesive coating on the front portion of the vehicle may be activated on contact and will be able to adhere to the pedestrian nearly instantaneously. This instantaneous or nearly-instantaneous action may help to constrain the movement of the pedestrian, who may be carried on the front end of the vehicle until the driver of the vehicle (or the vehicle itself in the case of an autonomous vehicle) reacts to the incident and applies the brakes. As such, both the vehicle and pedestrian may come to a more gradual stop than if the pedestrian bounces off the vehicle."

[h/t: Telegraph]
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