TRW Automotive Holdings (TRW) has unveiled a second generation pedestrian protection system (PPS) that uses a combination of acceleration and pressure sensing technologies to detect a pedestrian impact.
The new system uses pressure sensor satellite data measured through flexible tubing that runs the width of a vehicle's front bumper, in combination with up to three remote acceleration sensors to detect an impact and identify which side of the vehicle the pedestrian has impacted.
TRW executive vice president of sales and business development Peter Lake said while the auto industry continues its focus on reducing injuries in single and multiple vehicle crashes and reductions in deaths and injuries have been realized in developed markets, pedestrian fatalities continue to increase globally.
"It is estimated that some 35% of global road fatalities involve pedestrians and other road users outside of a traditional four-wheel vehicle, and enhancing their protection is one of the next great frontiers for both active and passive safety systems," Lake said.
"In addition, occupant fatality rates are falling faster in many developed markets than pedestrian fatalities, making pedestrians an increasingly larger percentage of overall road deaths and leading to an increasing industry focus on pedestrian protection."
According to the company the new system is scheduled to be ready for production by 2016.
First generation pedestrian protection system (PPS) from TRW was produced for Porsche in 2009 and later launched it in Chrysler.
It includes remote acceleration sensors and either a dedicated ECU or an airbag ECU that integrates the pedestrian protection system algorithm to detect a pedestrian impact.
The system also has hood lifters which can be deployed to increase the gap to the vehicle's engine and help cushion pedestrian impact.
TRW said that its second-generation systems work in a same way but add additional sensing capabilities to enhance system performance and robustness.
