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.