Ford patented an exterior air bag system
Ford has submitted a patent application for an exterior air bag that would deploy from behind a lorry’s grille during accidents.
Submitted with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Mar. 1, 2021, and published Sept. 1, the application describes an airbag system similar to the ones currently mandated in the U.S. for automobile interiors as a supplementary restraint system (SRS) to safeguard residents.
Ford exterior airbag system patent image Like standard air bags, the external air bag would utilize pyrotechnics to deploy as well as blow up, and also would certainly be caused by sensing units finding an accident.
In this instance, however, the airbag would be mounted in the front-end structure of an automobile, deploying from behind the grille and also covering the leading edge of the hood. In the application, Ford stated this system could be utilized in many kinds of private traveler automobiles– including automobiles, SUVs, crossovers, pickup trucks, as well as minivans– in addition to taxis or buses. It might likewise be utilized in autonomous automobiles, according to Ford.
Ford external air bag system patent photo Ford isn’t the only firm to explore exterior air bags. In 2019, German vehicle provider ZF showed a prototype exterior airbag system for side-impact accidents. Designed to offer an extra crumple area to help absorb the energy of influences, the external airbag might reduce injury extent by 40%, ZF said at the time. While ZF seemed rather positive in its technology, asserting software application as well as sensors could deploy the external air bag in just 100 milliseconds And have it completely pumped up prior to contact with any objects or various other vehicles, the firm hasn’t put it into manufacturing. Probably Ford will have far better luck with its forward-deploying version of this tech.
