Google has patented a way to hunt down potholes

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.

The car will then transmit this data to a central service where is can be used in the analysis of a road's condition.

Here's what Google wrote in its patent:

Systems and methods for monitoring vehicle sensors to determine and report road quality using a communication device are disclosed. The communication device determines the vehicle's location on a road, such as by use of a GPS-enabled head unit or similar device and appropriate mapping software. Monitoring road quality may be achieved by adding a sensor to the shocks, by use of a vertical displacement sensor present on the head unit, and the like. Various combinations of sensors may be employed. A horizontal displacement sensor may be used. The signals from the sensors are monitored by the head unit and analyzed to judge the quality of the road by the amount of vertical vibration that is encountered. This data, together with the vehicle's location, may be transmitted through a mobile network to a central server for distribution in road quality reports and to improve driving directions in mapping software.

This newly patented system is Google's latest foray into the realm of automotive technology. The company recently released its Android Auto infotainment system. Google is also developing its own driverless vehicle.

As with any patent, there's no guarantee that Google will actually put such as system into production. However, the concepts derived from this patent could very well find their way into future cars equipped with Google's automotive technology.