World’s First Multi-Collision Airbag System Revealed By Hyundai

Hyundai Motor Group is working on the world’s first multi-collision airbag system, which the company claims it offers significantly improved protection in multi-collision accidents.

According to data from NHTSA, 30 percent of 56,000 vehicle accidents from 2000 to 2012 in the North American region involved a secondary impact, meaning those in which the primary impact is followed by collisions with secondary objects, such as trees, electrical posts or even other vehicles.

Unlike the current airbag systems, which can’t offer any secondary protection after the initial impact, Hyundai’s multi-collision airbag system will allow airbags to redeploy upon a secondary impact.

Hyundai says that the technology behind the new airbag system monitors the position of the occupant in the cabin following the initial collision. The company’s engineers have recalibrated the collision intensity required for deployment, allowing the airbags to deploy faster in the event of a secondary impact and improving the safety of the 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 Center at Hyundai Motor Group. “We will continue our research on more diverse crash situations as part of our commitment to producing even safer vehicles that protect occupants and prevent injuries.”

Hyundai Motor Group will offer the new airbag system in future Hyundai and Kia models once its development is finished, but the automaker didn’t provide a timeline.