Hyundai Mobis has developed the world’s first panoramic sunroof airbag system. This new safety feature would be responsible to reduce injuries to passengers by preventing them from being thrown out of the car roof during an accident.
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Almost all high-end cars now come with an option of a panoramic sunroof which allows the passengers of the car to enjoy an open view above. It is made from special tempered glass which expands the openness of the existing sunroof.
The new Panoramic Sunroof Airbag System by Hyundai is installed inside the sunroof. It is deployed forward from the rear of the car and resembles the curtain airbags that are deployed alongside the windows of the vehicle during a side impact.
The panoramic sunroof airbag inflation system is activated when the sensors detect that the turning angle of the vehicle is changed due to a rollover accident. The airbag is inflated by a small explosion and the gas emitted covers the entire roof surface of the vehicle in just 0.08 seconds to protect the passengers and reduce injuries.
The system also prevents the occupants from flying out of the car in the event of a rollover, thereby reducing the risk of them sustaining serious injuries.
During the development process, the airbag was deployed in a road test using dummies. It prevented the passengers from being flung out of the car and cushioned the impact on the head. Therefore, serious injuries likely to result in the death of the passenger were reduced to minor injuries.
The Hyundai Mobis panoramic sunroof airbag system is more complex compared to ordinary airbags and features more technological difficulty.
While it was being developed, the engineers identified that it was important to secure enough space in the sunroof for stable airbag deployment. The airbag must also be deployed safely in a way in both cases, when the sunroof is open or closed during an accident.
Hyundai Mobis has applied 11 patents for the panoramic sunroof airbag system. This has allowed the company to gain a competitive advantage over its rivals to further develop this technology.
