Patent attributes
Vehicles, systems and methods for improving traffic flow and roadway safety including an autonomous vehicle programmed to automatically interfere with at least a second vehicle in order to protect the second vehicle or occupants or property within the second vehicle. The vehicle includes a Safety Mode where the vehicle sacrifices itself to protect other vehicles, and a Passenger Mode where the vehicle exhibits priority over other vehicles which other vehicles sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the Passenger Mode vehicle. In further disclosure an autonomous vehicle includes crumple zones in non-traditional locations to more effectively protect vehicles in crashes. A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product controls the autonomous vehicle configured to automatically position itself in a collision or interference with another vehicle in order to minimize force impacts upon other vehicles.
