Google's New Patent Idea: A Sticky Car Hood That Grips Pedestrians on Impact

Google has patented an unusual safety concept for self-driving cars: a sticky coating applied to a vehicle’s hood and front panels that would hold a pedestrian in place if they are struck, rather than letting them bounce off or slide onto the road.

The idea behind the adhesive layer is to reduce the severity of secondary injuries. In a typical collision, a pedestrian is first hit by the front of the car and then thrown — often into the path of the same vehicle or other traffic. Google’s patent describes an eggshell-like material that would break on contact, exposing a glue-like substance beneath. The adhesive would aim to prevent the person from being flung away from the car after the initial impact.

Google has stressed that it does not currently sell self-driving cars and that patents do not necessarily translate into products. The company has previously said that its self-driving project is still in development, with safety as a central concern. Other companies and researchers have also explored external airbags and raised hoods as ways to cushion pedestrians in crashes, so Google’s sticky surface is one of several ideas in this space.

Whether such a coating would work in real-world conditions — and whether it could even be practical for everyday driving — remains an open question. The patent alone does not prove the technology will ever appear on a production vehicle.