German firm tests external airbag for side-impact crashes
The story goes that when some managers were debating how to squeeze another lift into their building a cleaner asked “why not put it on the outside”.
Now German automotive supplier ZF has revealed an external airbag system to shield passengers in a side-impact crash.
The difficult with side impacts is that there is not a lot of room for devices that crumple or compress before something solid hits the vehicle occupant. The company said that an external airbag could reduce passenger injury severity by up to 40 percent.
There is no time line at this stage but ZF will offer the technology to car makers.
David’s boyhood passion for motor cars did not immediately lead to a professional role in the motor industry. A qualified Civil Engineer he specialised in traffic engineering and transport planning.
What followed were various positions including being seconded to a government think-tank for the planning of transport firstly in Sydney and then for the whole of NSW. After working with the NRMA and as a consultant he moved to being an independent writer and commentator on the broader areas of transport and the more specific areas of the cars we drive.
His half hour motoring program “Overdrive” has been described as an “informed, humorous and irreverent look at motoring and transport from Australia and overseas”. It is heard on 22 stations across Australia. He does weekly interviews with several ABC radio stations and is also heard on commercial radio in Sydney.
David has written for metropolitan and regional newspapers and has presented regular segments on metropolitan and regional television stations. David is also a contributor for AnyAuto
Subaru’s third generation EyeSight is like an extra pair of eyes with dual CMOS cameras watching the surroundings when you’re driving and producing images in colour, enabling recognition of even low-contrast objects. [Read More]
The critically acclaimed, all-new Holden Spark, has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating – the highest rating available in Australia. The five-star ANCAP rated Holden Spark is now on sale at dealers nationwide, with Spark pop-up brand experience centres touring Australia from the end of April [Read More]
More and more cars now have AEB – automatic emergency braking (it is now an essential requirement to get a five-star crash rating in Australia). Some say they can detect pedestrians. David Brown says it’s not that simple. [Read More]
German firm tests external airbag for side-impact crashes
