The way current safety tech is progressing, there’s a chance that in the distant future, cars will have the capability to land on the surface of another planet, with the simple addition of a parachute and perhaps some thrusters – the development of exterior airbags is underway. If you thought Volvo was joking with this year’s April Fools photo, it wasn’t, or it may have been at the time, but could have sparked a good idea out of it.
The Daily Mail reports on “external airbags that pop up on the side of cars are the latest safety innovations being developed for the motoring industry.” TRW Automotive is the company behind the project and it gets its funding from the European Union, but they are surely not the only ones.
Volvo launched its under-bonnet airbag last year, one that makes pedestrians’ impact with the front of the car more pleasant, while SEAT is rumored to be in on the act too.
You can imagine that once they are made to work on the sides, it’s only going to be a matter of time before the entire exterior of the car will have inflatable bags all around – it may even end up being mandated by law at some point further down the line.
By Andrei Nedelea
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