The tech giant filed a patent last week that will basically turn cars into pothole patrollers. A sensor could then be added to the vehicle’s shocks, which will monitor and record any instances of the auto hitting a pothole-like obstruction in the road. Eventually, Google would like to maintain an up-to-date database of broken roads so drivers who use Google Maps for navigation can avoid potholes. By doing so, the company would be able to pinpoint where potholes have sprung up.
Advertisement
Potholes aren’t just ugly to look at, they do a lot of harm as well: damaging vehicle suspension, causing accidents and piling up traffic. These cars will have to be mounted with motion sensors to assist in the collection of data about where a vehicle bounces around.
As Autoblog notes, a patent isn’t a guarantee Google will actually develop this into a reality, but judging from Google’s forays into self-driving cars it seems likely.
City crews also use the information to know which roads need immediate attention in terms of fixing. This crowd-sourced navigation app already connects you to other drivers automatically (and anonymously) in the background.
Advertisement
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL)’s system once developed should be more detailed and reliable as it relies on data collected by the actual movement of a auto. This would allow Google Maps to provide a quicker and more accurate route to any given destination.
