ZF reinvents airbags for autonomous cars

Iconic transmission supplier ZF has revealed an airbag-based strategy for autonomous vehicles.

At 'Airbag 2018', a German symposium in Mannheim this week, ZF presented an 'external pre-crash airbag', 'dual-contour airbags' that protect the occupant no matter what the seat position, 'far-side airbags' and a new, lightweight knee airbag module.

The side-mounted pre-crash airbag (pictured) deploys the moment an autonomous car detects a fast-moving vehicle approaching from the side – and failing to stop or slow for the safe passage of both vehicles. Airbags are usually reactive, with the devices firing within milliseconds of the vehicle detecting an impact, but an autonomous car can predict the impact, based on the closing speed of the other vehicle.

"Occupant safety is paramount when developing new vehicles for automated and autonomous driving," said Dr Michael Büchsner, Head of ZF's Passive Safety Systems Division.

"Our concept of the pre-crash external side airbag is a great example of how ZF wants to achieve its Vision Zero, a world without accidents and emissions."

The external pre-crash airbag works like 'an additional crumple zone' and ZF claims it can reduce the severity of the load forces in a side-impact crash by up to 40 per cent.

The dual-contour airbags are being developed for application inside the cabin of autonomous vehicles. ZF claims they will protect occupants in flexible seating positions and will be an integral part of the seat, which may be turned to face rear-seat passengers or reclined for resting at the moment of impact. The airbags will be adaptive and will deploy in accordance with the prevailing requirements. These include the direction of the impact forces and the seat position.

Not altogether unprecedented, the lightweight knee airbag will enter production next year. With a housing of fabric rather than metal it can be up to 30 per cent lighter than traditional units.

"Due to its lower weight, the vehicle consumes less fuel and gives off fewer emissions," says Norbert Kagerer, Head of Development at ZF's Passive Safety Systems Division.

"In addition, the smaller and more flexible size helps meet new interior requirements of future electric and autonomous vehicles."

Finally, reducing the potential for noggins and other body parts to meet in the middle, ZF has developed 'far-side airbags' to deploy between vehicle occupants during a crash. The company anticipates this sort of safety feature may be mandated sooner rather than later.

"The new test requirements of Euro NCAP, scheduled to be introduced by 2020, extend occupant safety requirements for the side facing away from the occupants in case of a side impact," said Kagerer.

"In the future, the far-side airbag may be necessary in order to receive a five-star crash safety rating."

It's a development just begging for a cartoon from Gary Larson.