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Automatic Guard Rails

 Preserve the View!
  (+2, -1)
(+2, -1) 		  [vote for,
against]

Based on the rollover prevention systems now in use on many convertibles, these barriers are actually inset level with the road surface when not deployed. A sensor strip between the edge of the lane and the rail utilizes induction loops (like at a traffic light) a pressure strip and optical sensors to detect when a vehicle has passed out of the lane at a speed and angle which indicates it is in need of the guard rail at which point the guard rail sections deploy via a set of explosive charges in a fraction of a second. 4 charges are installed per section in the event of false triggers(vehicle returns to travel lane etc), the system can reset and still deploy while awaiting a service crew to replace charges and repair damaged sections.

The primary application of this technology would be for use in scenic areas where Guardrails are an Eyesore and destroy the view, and/or restrict wildlife movement.

Can also be used to protect around pedestrian walkways, park entrances etc.

—jhomrighaus, Mar 10 2009

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       I wasn't so much referring to the view from the cars, rather the view from near the road such as in forests and parks where there are trails, parking areas etc..   

       Obviously if you are in an area where you want to restric wildlife movement youwould not install this type of system. As to deployment in winter, the fact that these are flush with the road surface means that the snow can actually be plowed back off the road surface and off the rails, current rails do not allow this and their function is actually compromised when drifts of snow are built up in front of them which is why you see highway crews removing snow with loaders from certain areas to ensure the rails can still function.
—jhomrighaus, Mar 10 2009
   

       [21 Quest] I am a little fuzzy about your crusade against this idea, The entire snow thing had nothing to do with the original proposal. I also never implied this to be an easier solution to anything, ITS THE HALF BAKERY!   

       I am fully aware of all the current types of guard rails out there the point being that all of them stick up on the side of the road and all of them are heavy and obtrusive in appearance and that was the point of the idea.   

       [ian Tindale] What are you referring to when you say MVC and HCI?
—jhomrighaus, Mar 10 2009
   

       [jhom] it's a (very) niche joke based on two key puns.
Pun 1: "Rollover event" - both something unpleasant to do in your car, and something a mouse triggers on your computer.
Pun 2: "Rails" - punning on both those long things down the side of the road and "Ruby on Rails" a programming language for web-fronted applications.
   

       MVC stands for "Model-View-Controller" - a way of "architecting" a computer system in way that eases deployment, maintenance, reuse and robustness to change.   

       HCI is "Human Computer Interaction" which relates to the View and Controller parts of MVC, and is the bit where a language like Ruby on Rails might be deployed, and where things such as mouse roll-over-events might be encountered.   

       Sometimes the bakery is like doing a crossword - I normally don't get half of it - but then again, who does?
—zen_tom, Mar 10 2009
   

       Now, *that's* a shibboleth and a half!
—pertinax, Mar 10 2009
   

       I think that an even better idea would be to install huge airbags at the bottom of the cliffs that the above-mentioned guardrails are meant to protect one from flying over.   

       Or perhaps a gigantic electomagnet installed on the opposite side of the road, which turns on and pulls the offending car back onto the road when triggerred to do so...
—marquisdenet, Mar 10 2009
   

       I would hate to be standing near one when it deployed. Saved from the car, but maimed by the safety device. Would probably result in increased liability for the DOT or whatever agency installed it as well high construction and maintenance costs, but interesting idea. Neutral.
—saprolite, Mar 10 2009
   

       I kind of like it, only the combination of road-safety and explosive charges is an uncomfortable one.
—zen_tom, Mar 10 2009
   

       //if it misfires, say, when the vehicle in question is right over the top of it, it's going make sure the occupants are killed//
Obligatory bun.
—coprocephalous, Mar 10 2009
   


 

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