Global Challenges in Passive Safety Passive Safety includes seat belts, airbags, and energy absorbing features of the vehicle. Passive Safety is implemented when the accident can’t be avoided! What are the key challenges over the next few years?
Challenge #2: An Aging Population People 65+ represented 12.9% of the population in the U.S. in the year 2009 but are expected to grow to be 19.3% of the population by 2030. This trend should be similar in other Western nations. Older adults are more susceptible to serious injury (less bone mass, etc.) Older adults may have more difficulty donning and adjusting the seat belt.
Frontal /Thor - Side /WorldSID Pedestrian Safety Whiplash
ADR 73, ADR 72, A-NCAP
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Challenge #3:
Global Regulations / Consumer Trends
Depending on the region, regulatory and consumer preferences may differ: – Pedestrian Injury Mitigation vs. Avoidance – Enhanced Frontal and Side Protection – Injury Mitigation for small stature adults, children – Ejection Mitigation – Rollover vs. First Impact Side Protection – Rear Seat Occupants – Unbelted Occupants
Challenge #4: Growth in the Emerging Markets China annual production alone could grow to 30M vehicles within the next decade Growth in potential accidents Global vehicles/local supply development will challenge available resources Unique local requirements leads to duplicate design efforts in each region
How to Best Integrate Active Sensing with Passive Restraints? Potential for better positioning occupant for crash scenarios: – Pre-Crash Triggering – Helping Reduce Belt Slack
Pre Crash Warning
– Seat / door movement to increase space to absorb energy – Earlier Deployment / Larger Bags Collision Warning and Preparation
Challenge #6: Putting It All Together Generally, much technology is already available to enhance passive safety: – Dual stage / Dual Contour Airbags – Dynamic Locking Tongues – Motorized Seat Belts – Seat Belt Pretensioners, Variable Load Limiters – Inflatable Belts, Inflatable Bolsters – Roof Bags, Interaction Bags, Curtains/Side/Knee Bags We need to be able to connect the dots to select and prioritize the best solutions for the motoring public.
Challenge #6: Putting It All Together We can do this when we increase our knowledge of the accident: – Type of occupant and specific injury / trauma – Data on the vehicle environment relative to the injury – Data on the crash environment (speed, angle, severity) – Connect the Dots to Make Sense of it All! Collaboration between industry / government and universities is essential to complete the whole picture.