Speed Spongetm: design and applications overview Passive vehicle barriers Mobil vehicle barriers Automatic vehicle barriers A speed spongetm is a horizontally emplaced application that removes forward momentum, and therefore speed from a moving vehicle, or process.  Speed sponges tm are engineered to target specific speed/mass processes, up to or exceeding K-12, by  implementing an exponential decay function.  The device can be engineered to have a minimum impact on vehicles traveling below the targeted speed/mass, while having maximum impact on all other vehicles. Unlike other speed absorption technologies based upon engineered materials, speed sponges tm have a number of operational advantages.   Speed sponges tm are automatically reset to optimal as soon as the mass of the targeted vehicle, or process, passes over the device.   Speed sponges tm can be engineered within a wide variety of fixed, or operator controlled, capacities.  These devices can be designed to operate effectively on vehicles ranging from bicycles to jumbo jets.  Targetable vehicles include wheeled, tracked, and rail based vehicles.   A speed spongestm redirects the energy from the targeted process into either gas compression or fluid pressure.  Sufficient quantities of energy re-directed from the targeted vehicle to operate other ancillary systems such as pneumatic or hydraulic barriers, flame suppression, and diversion systems. Speed sponges tm are constructed of durable, recycled materials and will provide many years of service even under high demands or in-hospitable environmental conditions. An above ground speed spongestm, can be retrofitted to existing roadways, or used as a temporary device.  Above ground speed sponges come in widths ranging from 2 to 6 feet, and can be configured to span road surfaces of almost any length.   Embedded speed sponges tm are built into the roadway as either retrofit or new construction.  Embedded speed sponges are custom designed and can be built to almost any width and length. By implementing an exponential decay function, these devices have applications far beyond crash mitigation.   When implemented as a residential speed table vehicles below the targeted mass/velocity will barely notice its existence.  This means that cars traveling below a selected speed will encounter the speed spongetm as a high friction road surface.  However, heavier or faster moving vehicles will experience the device with the resistance of 8 inch deep mud or wet sand.