Knee Airbag Cushion Deployment for Autonomous Vehicle Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional knee airbags in autonomous vehicles are ineffective in securing passenger safety when the seat is in a relaxation mode, as the distance between the passenger and the crash pad is excessively large, leading to inefficient deployment during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A knee airbag apparatus with multiple cushions (first, second, and third cushions) that are deployed differently based on the seat position (normal or relaxation region) and collision mode (head-on, offset, or oblique), using an airbag controller and active vents to ensure timely and effective deployment of cushions to protect the passenger's knees, feet, and shins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional single cushion knee airbag is used, then the structure is simple and deployment is fast, but the protection effectiveness is insufficient when the seat is in relaxation region due to excessive distance from crash pad
Solution Approach 1:
The knee airbag is divided into multiple separate cushions (first cushion, second cushion, third cushion) that can be deployed independently or in combination. Each cushion is connected to the inflator through separate vent holes, allowing selective deployment based on seat position and collision mode. This segmentation enables the system to address the distance issue in relaxation region by deploying multiple cushions while maintaining structural modularity.
2Reliability
If multiple cushions are deployed simultaneously, then protection coverage is improved for both normal and relaxation regions, but the airbag gas consumption increases and deployment control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the deployment of different cushions based on real-time detection of seat position (normal region vs. relaxation region) and collision mode (head-on, offset, oblique). The airbag controller selectively opens specific vent holes to deploy only the necessary cushions for the detected scenario, optimizing gas consumption while ensuring adequate protection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the deployment parameters (which cushions are deployed, deployment timing, gas flow distribution) based on the detected seat position and collision mode. This allows the same airbag system to adapt its behavior to different operating conditions, providing appropriate protection coverage without unnecessary gas consumption.
3Productivity
If active vents are used to control cushion deployment selectively, then gas consumption is optimized and deployment precision is improved, but the device complexity and control system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The active vents serve multiple functions: they control gas flow to specific cushions, act as deployment timing mechanisms, and enable the system to adapt to different seat positions and collision modes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms for each cushion, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while maintaining high deployment precision.
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 apparatus efficiently secures passenger safety by deploying the appropriate cushions based on the collision mode and seat position, providing enhanced protection in both normal and relaxation regions, thereby addressing the inefficiencies of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator to generate airbag gas; a first cushion deployed toward knees of a seated passenger by the airbag gas
Implementation Method 2
a first active vent configured to close the first vent hole under the condition that only the first cushion is deployed and to open the first vent hole such that the second cushion is deployed with a time difference after deploying the first cushion
Implementation Method 3
a second active vent configured to close the second vent hole under the condition that the third cushion is not deployed and to open the second vent hole such that the third cushion is deployed
Data Source
AI summary
A knee airbag apparatus for an autonomous vehicle, wherein a first cushion and a second cushion are deployed toward the knees of a passenger and a third cushion is deployed toward the feet and shins of the passenger according to a collision mode (head-on collision, offset collision or oblique collision) and a position (normal position or relaxation position) of a seat.