This airbag, which protects the side of the car, acts as an additional deformation zone before another vehicle or object comes into contact with the car itself.
This airbag, which protects the side of the car, acts as an additional deformation zone before another vehicle or object comes into contact with the car itself.
Since their appearance, airbags have been used for the safety of the driver and passengers in the car. German equipment supplier ZF has developed external airbags to protect the sides of the car in the event of a side impact.
The system is similar to the current technology used for airbags inside cars. ZF claims to have solved the technical difficulties related to their size, which is two to three times greater with the use of several inflators, but also the adjustment of the computer, sensors, cameras and lidar. All are responsible for understanding when to deploy this external airbag.
During the tests, ZF found that this additional safety layer reduced the severity of injuries by 40%. It acts as an additional deformation zone before a car or object comes into contact with the car itself. The company presented this airbag at the recent 2018 Airbag Symposium in Germany. Production could start in less than two years.
