# Pedestrian-Protecting Autonomous Vehicles 'Waymo' Could Soften Itself If It Detects a Collision By Ell Smith | Published 2017-08-15 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waymo References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2017/08/14/waymos-self-driving-cars-could-soften-if-they-hit-pedestrian-transport-technology/) & [digitaltrends](https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/waymo-self-driving-car-softens-in-pedestrian-collison/) Waymo, [Google's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/google-and-renault) self-driving car could feature a design that allows the vehicle to soften itself if it detects a potential collision with a pedestrian. Even though research suggests that [autonomous vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tensor-robocar) would contribute to a decrease in road collisions, accidents are still bound to happen, and any time there's a car involved, it could be fatal. To ensure [optimal safety](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auto-shanghai-2025) for not just its drivers, but everyone, Waymo developers are working on securing a patent that allows the car's exterior to "alter its rigidity" when it detects its about to hit a pedestrian. The car will do so through elements embedded within it, called "tension members." When the car detects a potential collision, a signal will be sent to these tension members, prompting the car to alter the "hardness" of its panels. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.7/10 - Popularity: 21% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Pedestrian-safe Autonomous Vehicles:** As self-driving cars become more commonplace, the focus will shift to developing new safety features to protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. - **Adaptive Car Design:** The use of embedded tension members to alter a car's rigidity highlights the potential for future car designs to be more adaptable and responsive to their environment. - **Patented Safety Technology:** Waymo's patent signals a push in the industry to develop unique safety features that give companies a competitive edge in the self-driving car market. ### Who This Affects Most - **Automotive Manufacturing:** The development of pedestrian-protecting features presents opportunities for the automotive industry to enhance their designs, making their vehicles more attractive to safety-conscious consumers. - **Autonomous Vehicle Technology:** In the race to develop the most advanced autonomous vehicle technology, safety features such as pedestrian protection will become a key area of competition. - **Public Transportation:** With increasing interest in autonomous public transportation, the development and incorporation of safety features will be crucial to gaining public trust and acceptance of these new technologies. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Pedestrian-Protecting Delivery Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-delivery-vehicle.md) - [Pedestrian-Detecting Crosswalks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-pedestrian-crosswalk.md) - [Advanced Self-Driving Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wayve.md) - [Rotating Vehicle Cabins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/active-cockpit.md) - [Urban Robot Traffic Safety](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polis.md) - [Autonomous Rear Safety Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collision-prevention-system.md) - [Weather-Metric Robot Taxis](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotaxi-1.md) - [Lounge-Like Autonomous Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/audi-concept-vehicle.md) - [Collision Alert Bike Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roadio-system.md)