Login

Mercedes-Benz Patents External Pedestrian Airbags

Following on the lines of Volvo's development of an external airbag, Mercedes-Benz have patented a new A-pillar mounted external airbag setup that will help reduce the injury of the accident victims by reducing the impact between the pedestrian and the windshield.
Calendar-icon

By Cyrus Dhabhar

clock-icon

1 mins read

Calendar-icon

Published on August 9, 2017

Follow us on

google-news-iconWhatsapp-icon
Story

Highlights

  • The external airbag will help reduce injuries to the pedestrian
  • Volvo previously developed a similar iteration of an external airbag
  • The patent was filed with the US Patent and Trademark office in 2015
One of the leading cause of road accident fatalities is due to pedestrians being hit by moving cars. Where certain manufacturers around the world are working hard to develop automated braking systems for cars if there is a passenger detected, there are still cases where the car will eventually hit someone, especially if it is going above a certain pre-prescribed speed. Volvo, one of the pioneers of road safety globally have already developed a bonnet that pops up in order to increases the distance between the pedestrian striking the bonnet and the actual engine components beneath the bonnet. Several other manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz have adopted this system too. And now, going a step further, Mercedes-Benz have patented a new A-pillar mounted external airbag setup that will help reduce the injury of the accident victims even further.
mercedes benz a pillar airbag patent

Mercedes-Benz A Pillar Airbag Patent

These new airbags will essentially be fitted with sensors to detect a collision and then will be deployed from the edge of the windshield and from the inside edges of the bonnet. The airbags themselves will be fitted inside a fabric tube which will not be visible when the car is being used normally as there will be small plastic covers on them. The design of the airbags will let them adjust automatically with the hood as it rises. The airbags will also prevent pedestrians from banging into the windscreen or the side panels/metal surrounds of the windscreen and rather into the softer airbag structure, which will immediately reduce the risk of injury to a certain degree.

This external airbag design patent was originally filed by Mercedes-Benz with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in July 2015 but the official publishing for the same was a few days ago on August 3, 2017. Porsche too is said to have developed a similar external airbag patent especially for its convertible cars that help both the passengers of the car and the individual hit by the car.

Patent Image Source: Motor1.com

Calendar-icon

Last Updated on August 9, 2017


Stay updated with automotive news and reviews right at your fingertips through carandbike.com's WhatsApp Channel.

Great Deals on Used Cars

View All Used Cars

Popular Mercedes-Benz Models

Explore More