Interlocking Vehicle Airbags Gap Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag systems for autonomous vehicles face challenges in preventing external objects from passing through gaps between airbags during collisions, as the location and angle of impact are unknown, leading to potential direct impact with the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The airbag system employs interlocking airbags with specific shapes that overlap relative to the vehicle's exterior surface, triggered by computing devices using sensor data to deploy in a predetermined sequence, ensuring full deployment synchrony and maintaining interlock during and after inflation to prevent objects from passing through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional airbag systems are used with standard deployment, then the airbags can be simple in structure and quick to deploy, but gaps between airbags allow objects to pass through and directly impact the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system is divided into multiple individual airbags (first airbag, second airbag, third airbag) positioned at different locations around the vehicle exterior. Each airbag is independently deployable and shaped to interlock with adjacent airbags, creating a segmented protective barrier that prevents objects from passing through gaps while maintaining individual simplicity in each airbag unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbags are configured with specific three-dimensional shapes designed to interlock with one another. The first airbag has a first shape, the second airbag has a second shape, and the third airbag has a third shape, where these shapes are configured to interlock when deployed. This dimensional configuration creates an interlocking barrier that eliminates gaps without requiring complex internal structures within each airbag.
2Area of stationary object
If airbags are deployed to cover all potential impact areas, then protection coverage is improved, but the time required for full deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbags are pre-positioned in collapsed states at specific locations around the vehicle exterior before impact. Upon detection of an impending collision, the system deploys the airbags in a predetermined sequence based on the predicted impact location. This preliminary positioning allows for rapid deployment of only the necessary airbags rather than requiring all airbags to fully deploy, reducing deployment time while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag deployment system is dynamic and adaptive, adjusting which airbags deploy and in what sequence based on real-time sensor data about the impending impact. The system can deploy airbags in different sequences depending on the impact location, optimizing both coverage area and deployment speed for each specific scenario rather than using a fixed deployment pattern.
3Reliability
If multiple airbags are deployed in sequence to achieve interlocking configuration, then gap prevention is improved, but the coordination complexity and timing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag deployment system incorporates sensor feedback that detects the impending impact and communicates this information to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system determines the optimal deployment sequence to achieve interlocking configuration. The sensors provide real-time information about impact location and timing, allowing the system to adjust the deployment sequence dynamically, simplifying the coordination complexity through intelligent control rather than mechanical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to airbag systems for vehicles having interlocking airbags. An example airbag system may include a first airbag having a first shape and a second airbag having a second shape. The first shape and the second shape are configured to interlock with one another in order to reduce the likelihood of an object passing between the first airbag and the second airbag when the first and second airbags are inflated. In addition, the first airbag and second airbag are arranged to deploy on an exterior of the vehicle. An airbag system can also include one or more processors configured to determine that an impact with an object is likely to occur within a predetermined period of time. These processors can also use the determination to send a first signal to deploy the first airbag and a second signal to deploy the second airbag.