ZF TRW’s New External Airbag Reduces Impact by 30 Percent

Leading automotive safety system supplier ZF TRW has recently developed an external airbag that can deploy before a crash and reduce its impact by 30 percent. The company anticipates that this External Pre-crash Airbag technology could be seen in cars as early as 2020.

Deployed from the external side structure of the vehicle, the new airbag helps protect passengers in the event of a side impact crash. It also helps absorb energy in the event of a side impact collision.

In ZF TRW’s demonstration at the recently concluded CES, it deployed a prototype side impact airbag, displacing a volume about twice that of standard-side curtain airbag. Twice as much as time is required to fully deploy the external airbag, so it is theorized that it will deploy prior to the occurrence of the impact, which is different from traditional airbags which spot an impact before being deployed. In this case, the sensors have to spot an impact prior to its occurrence.

ZF TRW claims that this revolutionary technology will help absorb around 30 percent of the impact, and believes that the technology is promising with a scope for enhancement.

The new airbag has to be resistant to weather changes, corrosion, dirt and from small impact with debris and others. So far, it has already passed some tests in European countries.

Companies such as Volvo have attached external airbags to deploy in case of a head-on collision with a pedestrian.