Bag of Tricks: Airbag Advances

This article brings readers up-to-date on airbag advances that incorporate sensor systems into the cushions, with the goal of deployment at the ideal time for maximum safety. The author reviews some of the topics covered at the Airbag 2000+ Symposium (Germany, 2014), including the merging of active and passive safety systems, external airbags, weight reduction for the inflator systems, the impact of airbags on lowering fatality rates worldwide, concerns about safety for smaller passengers, and the role of ongoing airbag research studies. One sidebar describes the groundbreaking advances accomplished by Mercedes-Benz, particularly in their S-class vehicles; another sidebar summarizes Continental Automotive’s work in airbags that deploy very precisely.