Google's Wild New Patent Would Take Control Away From Bad Drivers

It goes way beyond existing driver assist systems, but don't expect it anytime soon.

Google Driver Patent

Photo by: BMW

Christopher Smith

By: Christopher Smith

Nov 6, 2024 at 9:35am ET

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A new patent through Waymo describes a software package that monitors driver behavior though on-board sensors and driver-assist systems.
It can issue alerts to the driver, to other cars, or even assume vehicle control if necessary.
The patent focuses primarily on correcting the actions of bad drivers.

Modern cars are already packed with technology that monitors your driving. Driver-assist systems keep track of speed, acceleration, braking, turning, and a plethora of other data points to offer assistance. What ultimately happens to all that data? That's a controversial subject that we won't delve into right now. Let's just say recent events involving Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and General Motors show it doesn't just dissolve into thin air.

Now, it appears Google wants in on that data. The tech giant recently published a patent application through Waymo for software that would monitor driver-assist features and associated equipment. The information gleaned from the systems would then be processed and evaluated to determine if you're a bad driver. That's a very basic summary of the 25-page patent application, which emphasizes identifying "aberrant" behavior. That's not the most interesting (and possibly disturbing) aspect of this proposed system.

In addition to assessing a driver's actions behind the wheel, the patent offers several "corrective action" scenarios that might happen as a result. The most basic are visual and auditory alerts, notifying the driver that a quick lane change without a turn signal isn't cool. The system could also alert other cars nearby that a maniac is on the loose. And another option is for Google to just take control of the car for an indeterminate amount of time.

There are other less extreme examples of how this tech might be used. For example, if the driver is excessively making bad decisions while on the road, it could perform calibration tests to make sure all systems are nominal. It can also learn the specific driving style of an individual over time and use that as a baseline to determine if something is wrong. As such, it may observe a vehicle wandering slightly in a lane—not enough to set off a typical lane departure warning but uncommon for the driver—and issue some kind of alert.

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As for simply gathering data to sell it or use it to develop more software, nothing on that front is mentioned. With recent reports of automakers already doing that with their in-house systems, we can't help assuming Google could have similar motivations.

Patents are often about locking down an idea for possible future use as opposed to something near-term, so don't expect to see this implemented anytime soon, if ever. Among other things, it sounds like a legal nightmare with regard to when and how the system should take over a car. But hey, check back in another 30 years. By then, your car just might tattle on you for taking corners a bit too fast.

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