Google\u2019s Waymo has patented a technology that will make its self-driving cars soft on the outside if it comes across a situation where there is a possibility of an accident with a human.According to a report in The Verge on Sunday, Waymo\u2014an autonomous car development company spun out of Google\u2019s parent company Alphabet\u2014recently patented a car design in which the vehicle is held together internally with a number of \u201ctension members\u201d.<\/p>\n
These members\u2014which could be cables, rods, or springs\u2014would slacken or tighten to adjust the car\u2019s \u201cexternal rigidity\u201d as needed, the report said.<\/p>\n
If sensors detect the vehicle is about to \u201ccome into contact with another object\u201d they would change accordingly. If it\u2019s another car, keep the outside stiff, if it\u2019s a human, loosen up as appropriate.<\/p>\n
Waymo said that the end result would be a lighter impact for those hit by the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink of it like a metal beanbag that crumples to accommodate a new, unexpected passenger,\u201d The Verge report explained.<\/p>\n
Self-driving vehicles constantly communicate with one another to prevent crashes but this is the first time that an industry player came out with a solution to save pedestrians from accident.<\/p>\n
In a related case, Uber and Alphabet have locked horns with each other over latter\u2019s accusation on the ride-hailing app of stealing its self-driving technology.<\/p>\n
Last month, the legal tussle between ride-hailing company Uber and Google\u2019s parent company Alphabet escalated when the court allowed Uber to seek deposition of Alphabet CEO Larry Page for up to four hours.<\/p>\n
Along with Page, Uber will be allowed to seek deposition of David Drummond, Alphabet\u2019s Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice-President of Corporate Development, reported Fortune on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The depositions were requested by Uber, which is being sued for alleged patent infringement and stealing trade secrets by Waymo, the self-driving project of Alphabet.<\/p>\n
Waymo filed a lawsuit against Uber earlier in 2017, alleging that the stolen information became the technological basis for Uber\u2019s self-driving cars.<\/p>\n
According to the lawsuit, Anthony Levandowski, who earlier headed its self-driving car project, downloaded around 14,000 files from his company-issued computer containing trade secrets related to Waymo\u2019s LIDAR technology, circuit board designs, and testing documentation.<\/p>\n
The company also alleged that Levandowski tried to remove traces of those actions by reformating his laptop.<\/p>\n
Levandowski joined Uber after his stint at Google, where he shepherded the company\u2019s own self-driving car programme.<\/p>\n
IANS<\/p>\n
Picture courtesy: Alamy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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