Google wants to use technology to get rid of potholes (goog)

Google

Last month, the United States Patent Trademark Office approved a patent application from Google's Dean Jackson for "Systems and methods for monitoring and reporting road quality."

In other words, Google has patented a way for cars to hunt down potholes — and report them to the authorities.

This is a new piece of technology that we really need. Seriously.

According to the AAA, potholes cost American drivers nearly $6.4 billion in 2014. And it's only getting worse as our nation's infrastructure falls further into disrepair.

As a result, Google's new patent could save motorists some serious cash.

Here's how it works.

According to the Google patent, the system uses a variety of on board sensors and mapping software.

First, a GPS-based mappings system determines the car's location and surrounding geography.

Sensors attached to each of the car's individual shock absorbers track the amount of the vertical movement of each wheel relative to the layout of the road.