Rainbow rice
Car fights road rage by turning red with anger
By Hugh Davies
Japanese inventors believe they have the answer to road rage: a car that expresses emotions.
They have patented a car that laughs, cries or shows anger, and sings to the occupants.
A "vehicle expression system" is vital for today's traffic congestion, the Toyota team says in the patent, registered in Washington DC.
The inventors say that as traffic jams increase with more cars on the road, cars with "expression functions such as crying and laughing" could create "a joyful, organic atmosphere".
They explain: "The headlights, antenna, windscreen and exterior panels can be regarded as the vehicle's eyes, tail and body surface."
In one moment, a car can be "sleeping", with "headlight shutters closed, antenna limp" and chassis lowered.
In the next, a car can "awake" with shutters uncovered, headlights fringed "with eyebrows", antenna erect and glass looking bright.
Eyelids would be introduced by lights appearing above the headlights. A tear - for breakdowns - would be marked by a light below the headlights.
According to the patent, the windscreen is to be made of material that transmits light by changes of voltage. Panelling would also be able to change colour.
Data is fed into a computer, attributing points to certain factors such as "the occupant reacting to reckless cutting in", or speed. This builds into an angry response, turning the car red, with the front lights glowing red.
The patent says: "The state of 'angry' will be changed either over time or in response to soothing input supplied by the occupants.
"When the number of points is reduced below the threshold value, the vehicle no longer shows 'angry'." It would move to "irritated".
In contrast, if the driver feels happy, the car might "wink" with a quick switch of headlights. If the "sudden appearance of a vehicle or pedestrian caused sudden braking" the car would express surprise by having its bonnet lights turn orange, and the vehicle going down at the rear.
The inventors say that they chose colours and light positions "in consideration of human psychology". Red would indicate passion in the driver's seat, or danger, while green or blue would denote "inspiration", "aplomb", "sadness" and "sophistication". A state of relief would be expressed in green.
The patent adds that a robot in the system could also be used to "sing" to create "a happy atmosphere" within a car. Just when the car will be built is uncertain.
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