ZF LIFETEC unveils a groundbreaking side airbag technology designed to elevate passenger safety during side collisions. The Pre-Crash Dual Stage Side Airbag (Dual Stage SAB) addresses critical moments before a collision, maximizing airbag effectiveness and potentially saving lives.
Pioneering Pre-Crash Protection
Dual Stage SAB utilizes a two-stage deployment mechanism activated milliseconds before an inevitable crash. The first stage triggers approximately 200 milliseconds before impact, pushing occupants a few centimeters toward the vehicle’s interior. This movement increases the available crumple zone, thereby enhancing the second-stage airbag’s protective capabilities during the actual collision.
Tackling a Major Hazard
Side collisions constitute roughly a quarter of all European accidents, as reported by Euro NCAP, ranking as a leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries. Limited crumple zones in side impacts often result in severe head and chest injuries. These collisions occur not only between vehicles but also when cars skid into trees, poles, or lamp posts.
Innovative Design for Maximum Safety
ZF LIFETEC’s pre-crash function leverages existing vehicle signal acquisition systems, allowing seamless integration into a car’s sensor infrastructure. Upon detecting an unavoidable collision, the first stage of Dual Stage SAB deploys, pushing occupants about 60 millimeters inward, away from the doors. This initial movement provides the subsequent airbag stage with more space to deploy effectively between occupants and intruding vehicle side parts.
The system employs two inflators to manage airbag stages. A hybrid inflator fills the pre-crash chamber of approximately 20 liters within 30 milliseconds, gradually moving passengers away from the impact zone. Following the collision, a pyrotechnic inflator rapidly fills the second chamber of 18 liters within 10 milliseconds. This dual-stage inflation ensures the pre-crash chamber vents before the second chamber deploys, preventing pressure conflicts and optimizing protection.
Proven Performance and Future Prospects
ZF LIFETEC conducted extensive testing, including sled tests simulating pole impact scenarios, and validating Dual Stage SAB’s functionality. The company plans to refine the system further, considering several occupant sizes and seating positions, such as those during highly automated driving.
This innovative airbag system integrates into seats across all vehicle classes, provided the necessary sensor technology exists. With the Euro NCAP Roadmap 2030 emphasizing pre-crash functionalities, vehicles equipped with ZF LIFETEC’s technology expect higher safety ratings.
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