Volvo introduces the pedestrian airbag!! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

The Blue Angel · 03-09-2012, 08:56 PM

Volvo introduces new pedestrian airbags

By Tecca | Today in Tech – 4 hrs ago

The new safety feature could save tens of thousands of lives this decade
Last decade, over 47,700 pedestrians were killed and more than 688,000 were injured — more than enough to represent a genuine public safety concern. But could any of these fatalities or serious injuries have been prevented by designing safer cars? That's precisely what automaker Volvo is betting with its new V40, the first car ever to include pedestrian airbags.
The design is a result of strict new European standards for improving pedestrian safety. When the car is involved in a collision with a pedestrian, the hood raises up slightly and a U-shaped airbag emerges around the windshield to help cushion the blow.
The V40's pedestrian airbags aren't the only safety feature designed to reduce these type of fatalities. The car includes a suite of pedestrian safety features, including an automatic breaking system designed to reduce low-speed impacts while the driver is distracted — a major cause of accidents.
[Image source: Volvo]

derklug · 03-09-2012, 10:23 PM

What's the point of running them down if they are going to live?

DarkneSS · 03-09-2012, 10:37 PM

I like how it pops up and blocks the entire drivers field of view. Lmao you may not even know you hit a person because the airbag will come up so fast and blind you.

SIRLOIN · 03-09-2012, 10:46 PM

Not a bad idea...

CamaroSkooter · 03-09-2012, 10:52 PM

So, let's put a springboard on the front of the car?

Now, the impact with the car won't kill them, but the impact with the ground after they fly 50 feet will...

SleepWarz · 03-10-2012, 12:28 AM

How about the shoelace experess looks both ways and be sure traffic is stopping before running out into traffic.

Number 3 · 03-10-2012, 07:37 AM

I saw a proposal at the Stapp Converence in 1992 for a hood mounted airbag. They had actually done cadaver studies on it.

Many companies today have "active hoods at the hinge". The key is to meet the current Pedestrian Impact Requirements, you have to create space between the hood and the hard engine beneath it. Two choices: 1) make the hood very high resulting in a boxy looking car, 2) add a deployable hinge that pops up when you hit something/someone.

When I worked for a Japanese OEM the data I saw showed your odds of getting killed BY a car were far higher than being killed IN a car. Average speed in Japan is something less than 25 mph. Even the highways have toll booths every few miles to keep you slow and under control.

03-09-2012, 08:56 PM	#1
The Blue Angel Drives: 2014 BRM 1SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 1,058	Volvo introduces the pedestrian airbag!! Volvo introduces new pedestrian airbags By Tecca \| Today in Tech – 4 hrs ago The new safety feature could save tens of thousands of lives this decade Last decade, over 47,700 pedestrians were killed and more than 688,000 were injured — more than enough to represent a genuine public safety concern. But could any of these fatalities or serious injuries have been prevented by designing safer cars? That's precisely what automaker Volvo is betting with its new V40, the first car ever to include pedestrian airbags. The design is a result of strict new European standards for improving pedestrian safety. When the car is involved in a collision with a pedestrian, the hood raises up slightly and a U-shaped airbag emerges around the windshield to help cushion the blow. The V40's pedestrian airbags aren't the only safety feature designed to reduce these type of fatalities. The car includes a suite of pedestrian safety features, including an automatic breaking system designed to reduce low-speed impacts while the driver is distracted — a major cause of accidents. [Image source: Volvo] __________________ 2014 Blue Ray Metallic 1SS/RS A Road Warrior

03-09-2012, 10:23 PM	#2
derklug Drives: 12 Boss 302 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Posts: 1,369	What's the point of running them down if they are going to live? __________________ The biggest mistakes in life come when you know exactly what you are doing.

03-09-2012, 10:52 PM	#5
CamaroSkooter Retarded One-Legged Owl Drives: 2010 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 9,745	So, let's put a springboard on the front of the car? Now, the impact with the car won't kill them, but the impact with the ground after they fly 50 feet will... __________________ My VIN = 2G1FK1EJ9A9105017 Build Date: 04-23-2009 according to: http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

03-10-2012, 07:37 AM	#7
Number 3 Hail to the King baby! Drives: '19 XT4 2.0T & '22 VW Atlas 2.0T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 12,172 View My Garage	I saw a proposal at the Stapp Converence in 1992 for a hood mounted airbag. They had actually done cadaver studies on it. Many companies today have "active hoods at the hinge". The key is to meet the current Pedestrian Impact Requirements, you have to create space between the hood and the hard engine beneath it. Two choices: 1) make the hood very high resulting in a boxy looking car, 2) add a deployable hinge that pops up when you hit something/someone. When I worked for a Japanese OEM the data I saw showed your odds of getting killed BY a car were far higher than being killed IN a car. Average speed in Japan is something less than 25 mph. Even the highways have toll booths every few miles to keep you slow and under control. __________________ "Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure." - Aldous Huxley

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03-09-2012, 10:37 PM	#3
DarkneSS Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS 6MT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Westchester, New York Posts: 3,715	I like how it pops up and blocks the entire drivers field of view. Lmao you may not even know you hit a person because the airbag will come up so fast and blind you.

03-09-2012, 10:46 PM	#4
SIRLOIN Banned Drives: Ms. Daisy Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nashville,Tn Posts: 400	Not a bad idea...

03-10-2012, 12:28 AM	#6
SleepWarz Banned Drives: 1991 New Yorker, 69 Tbird, ABM2SSRS Join Date: May 2009 Location: BC Canada Posts: 2,248 View My Garage	How about the shoelace experess looks both ways and be sure traffic is stopping before running out into traffic.