A pole extends forward from a pivot point at the car's rear axle. The forward end of the pole is held to the vehicle under-body by a releasable catch. The forward end also has a hardened steel spike aimed slightly downwards. When the catch is released, the front of the pole drops to the road causing the spike to catch on a divot in the road surface. Forward motion of the car forces the pole to rotate about the spiked end, which lifts the car by the rear axle to become vaultingly airborne.

The car's AI detects unavoidable collisions and releases the catch. In some versions, the AI includes a passenger and a large red button.

Deluxe versions include a rocket motor positioned on the forward end of the pole to forcibly propel the spiked end into the road.
-- the porpoise, Apr 30 2014

Flying-Leap Crash Avoidance Flying-Leap_20Crash_20Avoidance
Inspiration [the porpoise, Apr 30 2014]

Similar concept, but from the other side of the road... Radar_20Controlled_...20Response_20System
[normzone, Apr 30 2014]

Monty Python Brake Assist System The_20Monty_20Pytho...e_20Assist_20System
See DrBob's rather good anno about half way down the comments. [DrBob, May 02 2014]

Motorcycle version Motoramp
Similar, but for smaller vehicles [sophocles, May 02 2014]

Visions of two similarly equipped vehicles in a head-on....
-- pocmloc, Apr 30 2014


More " Artificial Intelligence " hand-waving which constitutes magic. We can't do it yet, and if we could you wouldn't trust it with your life.

" I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave - this collision is too important to jeopardize "
-- normzone, Apr 30 2014


After 700,000 miles the Google driverless software can reportedly reliably identify a Stop sign.

This should be installed in case of software confusion.
-- FlyingToaster, May 01 2014


And launches you straight into the overpass bridge...
-- RayfordSteele, May 01 2014


//More " Artificial Intelligence " hand-waving which constitutes magic. We can't do it yet, and if we could you wouldn't trust it with your life.//

The AI bit was a joke. Passenger, big red button, yuk, yuk? Never mind.
-- the porpoise, May 01 2014


Actually, collision detection / avoidance is pretty good these days. It's called active cruise control.
-- RayfordSteele, May 01 2014


If you first fired your engine at the incoming enemy vehicle, you could pole vault more daintily, and at a lower speed.
-- skoomphemph, May 01 2014


" collision detection / avoidance is pretty good these days."

Yeah, that's the stuff that is making my radar detector go nuts for the last couple of years. Apparently they use the same frequency.
-- normzone, May 01 2014


//Visions of two similarly equipped vehicles in a head-on....

They could do a pole switch...
-- not_morrison_rm, May 02 2014


Is that an electrician joke or a physics joke?
-- normzone, May 02 2014


That's some killer prior art DrBob. I see I'm only 12 years late to the party.
-- the porpoise, May 02 2014


Or a Polish joke?
-- not_morrison_rm, May 02 2014


[+] fun one!

Controlling pitch, roll, yaw on this one would be a challenge. Heads you win!

"Let's go for a ride! Oh, Sally, can you switch places with Bob? Thanks. Yes, if you didn't, we'd be off balance & then when we crash, the car would roll to the side of the pole vault."
-- sophocles, May 02 2014


//I'm only 12 years late to the party.//

But at least you brought a bottle.
-- DrBob, May 03 2014



random, halfbakery