Honda Reinvents Airbags to Save Lives
The new airbag prevents head injuries by up to 75 percent.
Since the 1950s
In theory and design, airbags have been around since the 1950s. They became mandatory for cars and light trucks in 1998. Initial prototypes were built to prevent blunt-force traumas. Since then, airbag technology has evolved to include a variety of systems that maximize passenger safety. Today, every automaker includes an airbag or two into their cars. As for Honda, plans are underway to take passenger airbags to another level.
Photo Courtesy of WIRED.
Partnership with Autoliv
Honda partnered with Autoliv, the leading supplier of vehicle safety systems in the world, four years ago to develop new technology that is supposedly going to revolutionize how vehicles protect passengers. Leading the team of engineers is Eric Heitkamp, Honda's Primary Engineer at the manufacturer's Crashworthiness division. The development has been taking place at Honda's Research and Development facility in Dublin where sewing machines are used to sew airbag prototypes.
Photo Courtesy of WIRED.
A Violent Punch for Safety
It takes less than a second to activate an airbag in case of an accident. Once inflated, a typical airbag looks like a stuffed pillow. It delivers a violent punch within milliseconds that is meant to save passengers from unnecessary injuries.
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Issues with airbags
It has previously been reported that shorter passengers and drivers have been seriously injured by airbags in the past. This is common, especially for women and children. Most of the time, it happens when they don't buckle up. A conventional airbag is designed to work hand-in-hand with a 3-point seat belt system. Despite car manufacturers working tirelessly to cover every possible scenario, a passenger's conduct remains to be a major issue. This is in addition to speeding and impaired driving.
Photo Courtesy of Driving.ca.
Leading Cause of Fatalities
Airbags aren't full proof and drivers should never assume that they can automatically save lives. They are designed to explode as fast as possible. Passengers are advised to use their seat belts, not to recline their seats, and to keep their feet away from the dash while the car is in motion.
Photo Courtesy of Driving.ca.
Reinventing the airbag
Honda and Autoliv have been working on improving passenger side airbags for the last 4 years. The new design features three unique chambers, as compared to the previous one. Fabric is used to attach the three chambers and create a sail-like space. This space contains "uninflated volume" which Honda claims can absorb shock without slamming into the passenger's head.
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Performance
The outer chambers are built to envelop and cradle the passenger's head, protecting it from unnecessary rotation. This helps prevent brain injury and skull fractures. Previous airbag systems were designed to protect the outside and Honda hopes to further the work by concentrating on protecting the brain.
Photo Courtesy of CarBuzz.
75 percent reduction
IIHS (Institute of Highway Safety) discovered that head rotation injury is a major front crash risk in road accidents. The institute then added the brain injury criterion, otherwise know as BrlC, in its crash assessments in 1995. According to Heitkamp, the new Honda airbag reduces chances of brain injury by up to 75 percent. While there are no real cases regarding actual injury reduction, the tested improvement is rather astounding.
Photo Courtesy of CarBuzz.
Available Earliest 2020
We are yet to know which models will receive the new airbag. But, Honda is expected to debut this already patented innovation in higher models in 2020. The automaker will then provide access to every other manufacturer for supply purposes. Currently, the sail design airbag is only built for the front passenger seat. It may take a while for us to see a similar airbag that pops out of the steering wheel. However, due to the promising results, it may happen in no time.
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