[ad_1]
Ford has filed a patent software for an exterior airbag that might deploy from behind a automobile’s grille throughout collisions.
Filed with america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Mar. 1, 2021, and printed Sept. 1, the applying describes an airbag system just like those already mandated within the U.S. for automobile interiors as a supplemental restraint system (SRS) to guard occupants.
Ford exterior airbag system patent picture
Like standard airbags, the exterior airbag would use pyrotechnics to deploy and inflate, and can be triggered by sensors detecting a collision. On this case, although, the airbag can be mounted within the front-end construction of a automobile, deploying from behind the grille and overlaying the forefront of the hood.
Within the software, Ford mentioned this method may very well be utilized in most forms of non-public passenger automobiles—together with automobiles, SUVs, crossovers, pickup vans, and minivans—in addition to taxis or buses. It is also utilized in autonomous automobiles, in accordance with Ford.
Ford exterior airbag system patent picture
Ford is not the one firm to experiment with exterior airbags. In 2019, German auto provider ZF confirmed a prototype exterior airbag system for side-impact crashes. Designed to offer an extra crumple zone to assist take in the power of impacts, the exterior airbag may cut back damage severity by 40%, ZF mentioned on the time.
Whereas ZF appeared pretty assured in its tech, claiming software program and sensors may deploy the exterior airbag in simply 100 milliseconds and have it totally inflated earlier than contact with any objects or different automobiles, the corporate hasn’t put it into manufacturing but. Maybe Ford can have higher luck with its forward-deploying model of this tech.
[ad_2]
