Abstract: According to one aspect, a vehicle includes a body and a rapid deceleration system that is configured to decelerate the body traveling on a road surface. The rapid deceleration system includes at least a first rapid deceleration mechanism coupled to the body, the first rapid deceleration mechanism including a first anchor, a first slider, and a first energetics arrangement configured to propel the at first anchor from the body toward the road surface to decelerate the body, wherein the first slider moves along a first axis to dissipate energy when the first anchor is propelled toward the road surface along a second axis.

Abstract: A rapid deceleration mechanism for a vehicle is provided herein. The rapid deceleration mechanism includes a cutting mechanism configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle, e.g., via a tether. An actuating mechanism is configured to selectively actuate (e.g., release or propel) the cutting mechanism towards a road surface on which the vehicle is driving to cause the cutting mechanism to cut a channel in the road surface. The channel defines a bollard area in the road surface. At least a portion of the cutting mechanism is disposed at least partially within the channel, against the bollard area, to anchor the body of the vehicle relative to the road surface.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes identifying a condition relating to an impact on a vehicle by an object, the vehicle including at least one anchor mechanism, the at least one anchor mechanism configured to anchor the vehicle to a surface. The method also includes determining whether the condition indicates that the anchor mechanism is to be deployed, and deploying the anchor mechanism when it is determined that the condition indicates that the anchor mechanism is to be deployed.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes determining that a rapid deceleration mechanism of a vehicle is to be deployed at a first location, and identifying at least one deployment parameter associated with a deployment of the rapid deceleration mechanism, the at least one deployment parameter being associated with the first location. The method also includes deploying the rapid deceleration mechanism at the first location based on the at least one deployment parameter.

Abstract: A rapid deceleration mechanism for a vehicle is provided herein. The rapid deceleration mechanism decelerates a body of the vehicle traveling on a road surface. The rapid deceleration mechanism includes at least one bollard attached to the body and at least one energetics arrangement. The at least one energetics arrangement propels the at least one bollard from the body toward the road surface to decelerate the body such that at least one of a portion of the body or the at least one bollard is deformed.

Abstract: A rapid deceleration mechanism for a vehicle is provided herein. The rapid deceleration mechanism includes a cutting mechanism configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle, e.g., via a tether. An actuating mechanism is configured to selectively actuate (e.g., release or propel) the cutting mechanism towards a road surface on which the vehicle is driving to cause the cutting mechanism to cut a channel in the road surface. The channel defines a bollard area in the road surface. At least a portion of the cutting mechanism is disposed at least partially within the channel, against the bollard area, to anchor the body of the vehicle relative to the road surface.

Abstract: A system for decelerating a vehicle includes a powered driver and an anchor supported by the powered driver. The powered driver configured to be movably coupled to a chassis of the vehicle. The powered driver is also configured to propel the anchor from the powered driver into a road surface to secure the vehicle to the road surface for decelerating the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for decelerating a vehicle includes a powered driver and an anchor supported by the powered driver. The powered driver configured to be movably coupled to a chassis of the vehicle. The powered driver is also configured to propel the anchor from the powered driver into a road surface to secure the vehicle to the road surface for decelerating the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for decelerating a vehicle includes a mount and a powered driver configured to propel an anchor toward a road surface to selectively secure the vehicle to the road surface. The mount is configured to couple the powered driver to a chassis of the vehicle.

Abstract: An elongated member is provided with one or more imaging sensors, location sensors, and a switch in its bottom end. For example, in an embodiment the elongated member may be a walking stick and the one or more imaging sensors may be one or more cameras Such a walking stick takes pictures of its surrounding environment and keeps records of its location when the switch touches the ground, so that the pictures and location information can be used to create a virtual simulation of the area that a user of the walking stick has walked through.