Mercedes-Benz Prototype Can Deploy Tiny Robot to Direct Traffic

This adorable robot could help warn oncoming drivers of an accident.

Autonomous Safety Cone

German automaker Mercedes-Benz just showed off a concept car with a super power that's straight out of Inspector Gadget: a Roomba-like robotic safety triangle that can deploy itself from the vehicle's rear bumper after a car crash, like a smart traffic cone.

The tech could end up saving lives, especially if the vehicle's occupants aren't in a condition to warn oncoming drivers of an accident and other road hazards.

Warning Triangle 4.0

The "Warning Triangle 4.0" was designed for Mercedes-Benz's autonomous Experimental Safety Vehicle 2019 concept, a showcase that's focused on what car safety technologies could soon look like in the age of self-driving.

A deployable ramp built into the rear bumper of the car lowers the adorable bot to the ground, according to Car and Driver. The robot then can roll out and warn oncoming drivers of the accident. It can also communicate with other cars through wireless technology.

Notifying other drivers on the road is — and will be — an extremely important aspect of ensuring any driver or occupant's safety. And that's especially the case when there isn't a driver behind the wheel in the first place.

READ MORE: If You Crash a Mercedes-Benz in the Future, It Could Deploy a Robot to Warn Other Drivers [Car and Driver]

More on car safety: Tesla Says Autopilot Is Statistically Safer Than a Human Driver