German automaker Mercedes-Benz just showed off a concept car with a super power that’s straight out of Inspector Gadget: a Roomba-like robotic safety triangle that can deploy itself from the vehicle’s rear bumper after a car crash, like a smart traffic cone.
The tech could end up saving lives, especially if the vehicle’s occupants aren’t in a condition to warn oncoming drivers of an accident and other road hazards
The “Warning Triangle 4.0” was designed for Mercedes-Benz’s autonomous Experimental Safety Vehicle 2019 concept, a showcase that’s focused on what car safety technologies could soon look like in the age of self-driving.
A deployable ramp built into the rear bumper of the car lowers the adorable bot to the ground, according to Car and Driver. The robot then can roll out and warn oncoming drivers of the accident. It can also communicate with other cars through wireless technology.
