Road Crab: A Safer and Smarter Solution for Road Clearance

Road safety is a critical concern for both drivers and road patrol operators, especially when dealing with obstructions such as objects or animals.
The current method requires operators to exit their vehicles, traverse active lanes of traffic, and manually remove hazards from the motorway. This exposes them to high-speed traffic and dangerous conditions, particularly in adverse weather or low visibility situations. There is a clear and urgent need for a safer, more efficient solution to mitigate these risks.
The Road Crab is a compact mechanism that enhances safety and efficiency in road clearance. Mounted on the front of a patrol vehicle, it allows operators to detect and collect objects without leaving the vehicle. Its crab-like design provides excellent maneuverability, enabling rapid removal of road obstructions and ensuring smooth, safe traffic flow.
The Road Crab is equipped with remote motor control, high-resolution cameras for precise object detection, and articulated panels that open and close smoothly to manage and collect objects or animals on the road. Its design includes a fixed front-mounted panel, a movable central panel that extends outward during use and retracts when not in use, and wing panels that can open up to 180°, providing wide coverage for efficient collection. An integrated collection base between the wing panels opens alongside them to securely gather objects or animals. When not in use, the base and wing panels retract, preserving a compact profile and ensuring no impact on the vehicle’s aerodynamics or performance.
System components:
- Fixed Central Panel: Mountable to the front of the vehicle
- Movable Central Panel: Lowers towards the ground, parallel to the fixed panel, allowing for flexibility and precise object handling
- Wing Panels: Two side panels that rotate and are open when in operation, forming an angle between 0º and 135º enabling wider reach for collection
- Collection Base: A base between the wing panels, close to the ground, opens with them to securely collect objects without dragging. It closes and retracts with the wings, keeping the system hidden and compact when the vehicle is in motion.
When an object is identified, the operator reduces the vehicle's speed and activates the mechanism, which opens and collects the object, ensuring the vehicle does not need to stop nor the operator to exit the vehicle.
When not in use, the system remains securely closed, ensuring minimal impact on the vehicle's dynamics, aerodynamics, and fuel efficiency, thanks to its lightweight and streamlined design.