Extendable Vehicle Post Airbag With Raiseable Net Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle airbag systems do not effectively utilize the vehicle's structural components to enhance occupant safety during impacts, as airbags are fixed in position and lack dynamic deployment mechanisms to optimize their protective capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system featuring extendable posts and a moveable net that supports inflatable airbags, allowing the airbags to deploy dynamically in response to vehicle impacts, with a computer-controlled mechanism to adjust the post and net positions based on the vehicle's power status and impact detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If airbags are fixed in position in traditional vehicle structures, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability to different impact scenarios and occupant protection effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system transitions from a fixed static position to a dynamic adjustable position. The airbag can be deployed at different heights and locations within the vehicle cabin based on impact detection, allowing optimization of protection for different impact scenarios (side impact, rollover, rear impact) while maintaining a compact stowed configuration that reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag system is divided into multiple independent deployable units positioned at different locations (e.g., different heights on B-pillars). Each segment can be independently activated based on the specific impact scenario, providing targeted protection while keeping the overall system manageable in complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If airbags are positioned away from vehicle structural components, then the protection effectiveness for occupants is improved, but the device complexity increases due to requirement of extendable mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is nested within or adjacent to the vehicle's structural B-pillar components. The deployment mechanism utilizes the existing structural space and components of the vehicle body, nesting the airbag system within the available structural envelope rather than requiring entirely separate extendable structures, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining effective deployment positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a vehicle floor and a post is extendable relative to the vehicle floor from a retracted position to an extended position. A net is moveably engaged with the post and the net is moveable relative to the post between a lowered position and a raised position. An airbag is supported on the post and is inflatable to an inflated position when the post is in the extended position and the net is in the raised position.