Google awarded patent for driverless car technology

Google has been awarded a US patent for a “landing strip” which will be used to transition a mixed-mode vehicle from human to autonomous control. The Intellectual Property Rights explain how the car would know when and where to take control and where it is located and the direction it needs to drive in. Google describes several methods for the technology and says that a range of aspects can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. The enabler
March 27, 2012 Read time: 1 min
1691 Google has been awarded a US patent for a “landing strip” which will be used to transition a mixed-mode vehicle from human to autonomous control. The Intellectual Property Rights explain how the car would know when and where to take control and where it is located and the direction it needs to drive in. Google describes several methods for the technology and says that a range of aspects can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. The enabler for the technology which may trigger actions is the landing strip which Google says could simply be a mark on the ground, a sign on a wall, or lines or arrows. To study the full patent document, %$Linker: External 0 0 0 oLinkExternal visit this link Full Patent Document false http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,078,349.PN.&OS=PN/8,078,349&RS=PN/8,078,349 false false%>.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New ITS America report examines the shared-use mobility sector
    September 29, 2015
    A new report by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), in conjunction with AT&T, investigates how evolving mobile technology and changing demands of the traveling public are shaping the future of transportation in a more connected world. This report, entitled Rise of the Real-Time Traveler, examines the public’s changing demographics and purchasing behaviors while focusing on shared-use mobility in an increasingly connected world. Utilizing a broad array of research, this report
    Read More
  • The bus is the future, says Swedish transport operator in its latest ad
    April 5, 2017
    Swedish public transport company Västtrafik has devised a different advertising campaign to encourage more car drivers to take the bus. The campaign film mimics the way the car industry advertises its new car launches, using buzzwords such as electric, sustainable, delegated driving, with dramatic music, lighting and quick cuts between images. In the end, however, a bus is revealed as the ‘mobility of the future’ with the offer of a free two-week test drive.
    Read More
  • Quantum XYZ intends to launch air taxi service in Los Angeles
    December 4, 2018
    Quantum XYZ is seeking to use SureFly’s eight-rotor hybrid ‘octocopters’ to launch an air taxi service in Los Angeles. SureFly, a subsidiary of US technology company Workhorse, is currently pursuing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Quantum intends to submit an application to become a FAA-certified urban VTOL air carrier. The company’s president, Tony Thompson, says: “Once SureFly receives FAA Type certification, we
    Read More
  • SwRI sponsors ITS America with $1,000 student essay competition
    February 14, 2018
    Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is inviting U.S. students to take part in an essay competition to share their visions for the future of transportation with a $1,000 (£720) prize and a trip to ITS America 2018, in Detroit, from the 4-7 June. It is aimed at providing students an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a thought-provoking manner. The topic, ‘How do you envision disruptive consumer technology will affect transportation systems over the next 10 years?’ is open to transportation, engineering
    Read More

Highlighted Content