External Airbag Cradle with Compliant Mounting for Pedestrian Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in protecting pedestrians during collisions, as existing safety mechanisms are inadequate in minimizing injury and damage to both pedestrians and vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of external airbags that can be selectively deployed based on the characteristics of pedestrians or objects, using a system that includes a cradle with a deformable panel and compliance components to absorb deployment energy and control kinematics, thereby reducing the risk of injury and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid mounting structures are used to secure airbags to vehicle panels, then airbag deployment reliability is improved, but the force transmitted to panels and pedestrians during deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from rigid mounting to compliant mounting with controlled mechanical properties. The compliance components (springs with specific stiffness, dampers with tuned damping coefficients, elastomeric materials with specific durometer) change the force-displacement characteristics of the mounting structure, allowing reliable deployment while limiting peak forces through controlled compliance rather than rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite mounting structures combining spring elements, damper elements, and elastomeric materials to create a multi-functional compliance system. This composite approach integrates energy absorption (springs), energy dissipation (dampers), and vibration isolation (elastomers) to achieve reliable deployment with reduced force transmission, resolving the contradiction between reliability and force magnitude.
2Device complexity
If airbags are mounted directly to vehicle panels, then device complexity is reduced, but the panels may be severely damaged during airbag deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-installing compliance components (springs, dampers, elastomeric materials) in the mounting structure to absorb and dissipate deployment energy before it reaches the vehicle panel. This cushioning effect protects the panel from severe damage during airbag deployment while adding only moderate complexity to the mounting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces compliance components as intermediaries between the airbag and vehicle panel. These intermediaries (mounting brackets with compliance elements, elastomeric mounts) provide the necessary decoupling to protect the panel from excessive deployment forces while maintaining a relatively simple overall mounting structure, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and panel protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The external airbag system effectively cushions impacts, reduces the likelihood of severe injury to pedestrians, and minimizes damage to vehicles by absorbing deployment energy and controlling kinematic forces during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
compliance components to absorb deployment energy and control kinematics
Implementation Method 2
external panel comprising an internal side and an external side... wherein the panel is formed of a deformable material
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, a system that supports an undeployed airbag is arranged to enable the airbag to be substantially cradled while undeployed, and to enable the airbag to be deployed in a manner that substantially protects a vehicle panel positioned over the airbag from being severely damaged when the airbag deploys. Such a system may enable the undeployed airbag to be attached to the vehicle panel such that the panel may deform upon deployment of the airbag to substantially absorb some deployment energy. The absorption of some deployment energy may effectively reduce the likelihood of a person being injured, or an object being severely damaged, upon contact with a deploying or deployed airbag.