Mercedes-Benz is Also Working on Pedestrian Airbags
A recent patent application has revealed Mercedes-Benz‘s external airbag design.
The German automaker is looking to patent its method of installing airbags in a car’s A-pillars, so they inflate if the vehicle accidentally hits a pedestrian. According to the patent application, sensors would determine whether a collision has occurred, which would then cause the hood to move upward near the windshield, with extra cushions deploying from the A-pillars.
The external airbags would reside inside a fabric tube so they’re not visible unless they’re deployed, with one end attaching to the top of the A-pillar, and the other on the tip of the hood. Essentially, Mercedes-Benz’s design would allow the airbags to adjust as the hood rises, so pedestrians would come in contact with the airbag rather than a hard surface like the windshield.
SEE ALSO: External Airbags Could be Heading to Future Cars
The patent application was filed on July 7, 2015 but was recently published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on August 3, 2017. The idea is similar to the pedestrian airbag Volvo first detailed in 2012.
“A vehicle includes a pedestrian protection device having a car hood that can be opened on at least one edge facing the windscreen when a collision of a person against the vehicle is recognized,” the patent application reads. “The device also includes at least one airbag, which in the triggered state, extends across a region of a windscreen pillar and a region of the windscreen adjacent to this.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Pedestrians in LA often come with dual front airbags.