Michigan based automotive equipment maker ZF TRW has introduced a new air bag designed to provide side impact protection to the occupants in the front seat.
The airbag is placed in the inner side of the seat back and in case of an accident it will inflate to protect the head, shoulder and torso of the occupants.
ZF TRW has equipped the airbag with a hybrid inflator along with a one-piece-woven bag or sewn cushion technology.
It is expected to protect the occupants from 'far-side' and 'near-side' crashes as the inflated airbag will act as a cushion between the driver and front seat passenger by reducing the side displacement of the driver.
It is also likely to reduce the risk of interaction of the driver with the front seat passenger or surrounding structural vehicle interior portion.
ZF TRW Inflatable Restraints Systems global engineering director Dirk Schultz said: "The risk to far-side occupants during side impact crashes is significant.
"Accident research shows that in the USA, nearly 30 percent of side impact fatalities involve far side events, and in Germany, nearly 30 percent of severely injured occupants in side crashes resulted from far side collisions."
According to ZF TRW, the modules can be designed to meet the requirements of OEM vehicles, and they will get to choose the design including a tether mechanism which promotes a triangular shape upon deployment.
Airbags are a vital part of a vehicle's safety system, and automakers including Hyundai have introduced vehicles like ix35 which features up to six airbags.
Image: ZF TRW side impact protection airbag. Photo: courtesy of PR News Wire.
