Google has patented a way for its self-driving cars to talk to pedestrians

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Google's self-driving car.

Google has been granted a patent (via The Washington Post) that shows how its self-driving cars would communicate with pedestrians by using screens or a speaker system, potentially helping to avoid collisions.

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The screens, which could be mounted on the doors or bonnet, would show signs such as "Stop," "Safe to cross," or a traffic sign, that would alert pedestrians to what the car is doing. This system is in place of a driver making eye contact or signalling to them.

The patent also outlines a speaker system that could communicate with pedestrians using alerts such as "coming through" or "safe to cross" if it is unclear who should go. There is also the suggestion of a robotic hand or eye that could make a pedestrian aware the car has "seen" them, according to The Post.

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There are no sketches of how the system would work within the application, but it appears to be similar to a system Nissan showed off last month. Google applied for the patent in 2012.

Google recently announced that its self-driving cars had logged 100,000 miles on the open road with no accidents caused by it.

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