Crash, bang, deploy and repeat

Hyundai Motor Group announced the development and future commercialisation of the world’s first multi-collision airbag system that significantly improves airbag performance in multicollision accidents.

Multi-collision accidents are those in which the primary impact is followed by collisions with secondary objects, such as trees, electrical posts or other vehicles, which occurs in three out of every 10 accidents.

Hyundai’s new technology detects occupant position in the cabin following an initial collision. When occupants are forced into unusual positions, the effectiveness of existing safety technology may be compromised.

By recalibrating the collision intensity required for deployment, the airbag system responds more promptly during the secondary impact, improving the safety of multi-collision vehicle occupants.

“By improving airbag performance in multi-collision scenarios, we expect to significantly improve the safety of our drivers and passengers,” said Taesoo Chi, head of Chassis Technology Centre at Hyundai Motor Group.

According to the National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System, part of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 30 percent of 56,000 vehicle accidents from 2000 to 2012 in North America involved multi-collisions.

The leading type of multicollision accidents involved cars crossing over the centre line (30.8 percent), followed by collisions caused by a sudden stop at highway tollgates (13.5 percent), highway median strip collisions (8.0 percent), and sideswiping and collision with trees and electric poles

(4.0 percent).

Hyundai Motor Group will implement the system in future Hyundai and Kia vehicles.