Airbag

Peugeot 306 airbags deployed

Round & Parrott blue plaque unveiling - Andy Mabbett - 2019-03-18 - 05

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Original Airbag Design Blueprint 1953

Interior of 1975 Buick Electra

Vauxhall Vectra curtain airbag deployed

Airbags are a vehicle safety device designed to protect passengers and drivers in the event of a collision. They are part of the automobile safety features that include seat belts, crash avoidance systems, and structural safety measures. Airbags are engineered to inflate rapidly then deflate during a collision, cushioning the occupants and reducing the risk of injury to the head, neck, and chest.

History

The concept of the airbag dates back to the early 1950s, with the first patented design credited to John W. Hetrick in 1953. However, it wasn't until the 1970s that airbags began to be commercially available in vehicles, with General Motors introducing them as an optional feature in some models. The adoption of airbags gained momentum in the 1980s and 1990s, culminating in legislation in various countries that made them a mandatory safety feature in new cars.

Types of Airbags

There are several types of airbags, designed to protect occupants in different parts of the vehicle during a crash. These include:

• Frontal airbags: Deploy from the steering wheel or dashboard to protect the driver and front passenger during head-on collisions.
• Side airbags: Protect the torso during side-impact crashes. They are typically mounted in the seat or door.
• Curtain airbags: Deploy from the roof to cover the windows, protecting occupants' heads in side-impact and rollover accidents.
• Knee airbags: Deploy from beneath the dashboard to protect the lower extremities.
• Pedestrian airbags: Deploy from the exterior of the vehicle to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision.

Operation

Airbags operate through a complex sensor system that detects a collision's force and triggers the airbag's inflation. This system includes accelerometers, impact sensors, and a control unit that evaluates the crash's severity and decides whether to deploy the airbag. The airbag inflates within milliseconds, using a chemical reaction to generate nitrogen gas, which fills the airbag. After cushioning the occupant, the airbag deflates.

Safety and Controversies

While airbags have been credited with saving thousands of lives, their deployment can also cause injuries, particularly if occupants are too close to the airbag or not properly restrained. Children and small adults are especially at risk, which has led to recommendations that children under 13 sit in the back seat.

There have also been recalls of airbags, most notably the global recall of Takata airbag inflators, which were found to degrade over time and could explode with excessive force, sending shrapnel into the vehicle's cabin.

Future Developments

The future of airbag technology includes advancements such as adaptive airbags, which adjust their deployment based on the occupant's size, position, and the severity of the crash. Other innovations include external airbags designed to protect the vehicle from impacts and reduce the force of a collision before it occurs.

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