---
title: Terp Student Inventor Helps Set Path for Autonomous Vehicles
date: 2024-11-08T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/terp-student-inventor-helps-set-path-for-autonomous-vehicles"
section: Articles
---
# Terp Student Inventor Helps Set Path for Autonomous Vehicles

*November 8, 2024* — by [Ruby Siefken ’26](/author/ruby-siefken-26)


> Electronic ‘Traffic Cone’ Patent Wasn’t His First

*IMG 7673 1920x1080 — Matthew Weirich '25 poses with the patent for his invention to aid safe autonomous vehicle navigation on McKeldin Mall.*

The whole point of neon-orange traffic cones is to alert drivers to road and utility work and other safety hazards. Yet a University of Maryland student wants to shrink their numbers and size.

Electrical engineering major Matthew Weirich ’25 earned a patent for his design of a traffic “cone” device that contains a miniature computer and wireless communications equipment that digitally transmits information to self-driving vehicles.

The goal: to enhance safety for drivers and construction workers while creating an eco-friendly alternative to traditional traffic cones and barrels. Because the new cones aren’t designed to be seen by people, but by autonomous cars, they don’t need to be as large, and far fewer can do the job.

“As we go into the future and cars are more autonomous and self-driving,” he said, “you don’t need a big cone that the car sees if you just have a little computer on the inside that talks to the car and says, ‘Hey! I’m over here! Don’t come over here!’”


*diagram showing four "cones" and orange cylinder — A diagram shows how an array of “cones” could warn autonomous vehicles of a hazard.*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Electrical and Computer Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/electrical-and-computer-engineering), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [A. James Clark School of Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/james-clark-school-engineering)