17-09-2010

Ford introduceert intelligente airbag

Dearborn - Het merk rust de Focus als eerste uit met een speciaal soort airbags, die zich tijdens een aanrijding kunnen vormen naar de contouren van het lichaam van de bestuurder.

Hiertoe zijn de airbags voor de bestuurder en passagier voorzien van een uitsparing in het onderste deel van de zak. Bovendien is de airbag voorzien van een speciaal soort ventiel, waaruit lucht uit kan ontsnappen op het moment dat het lichaam van de inzittende contact maakt met de airbag. Een speciale sensor bepaalt op basis van de zitpositie de hoeveelheid lucht. Dit moet ertoe bijdragen dat de kans op letsel aan de borstkas en nek verminderd wordt.

Ook de zijairbags zijn voorzien van wat Ford 'adaptieve ventilatie' noemt. Deze airbags zijn voorzien van een eveneens voorzien van een uitsparing, hetgeen moet zorgen dat er direct na een aanrijding minder druk op het lichaam van met name de kleinere inzittenden wordt uitgeoefend. De Amerikaanse Focus is de eerste Ford die met deze nieuwe generatie airbags uitgerust zal worden, maar op termijn moet de hele Noord Amerikaanse modelreeks voorzien worden van de intelligente airbag.

Bron | Autovisie

Lees hieronder het officiële persbericht van Ford:

All-New Ford Focus launches exclusive airbag technologies that enhance crash protection.

All-new 2012 Ford Focus will offer an exclusive suite of innovative airbags that help
customize protection in the most common frontal and side crashes Focus is launching Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology designed to help reduce chest and rib injuries. Innovative side airbags help enhance chest protection for front seat occupants with shoulder vents that deliver varying levels of pressure based on the size of the occupant and how much of their shoulder blocks the vent Focus will be Ford’s first car ever with a front passenger airbag with adaptive venting designed to help enhance head and neck protection by better matching deployment force with occupant size

The next-generation airbags will debut as standard equipment on the all-new Ford Focus on
sale early in 2011 in North America. The new airbags will roll out on other Ford vehicles in the
next few years.

SOUNDBITES
Dearborn, Michigan, Sept. 16, 2010 – The all-new 2012 Ford Focus will launch exclusive airbag technologies that enhance protection for front seat occupants in the most common frontal and side crashes. The suite of new innovations includes Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology. The new airbag uses a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a “pocket” to help lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes.

Ford’s innovative side airbags feature unique shoulder vents that stay open and reduce pressure for smaller occupants who typically benefit from reduced forces. Taller occupants whose shoulders block the vent could benefit from the higher pressures. Focus also will be Ford’s first car ever to feature front passenger airbags with adaptive venting technology that diverts some of the gas from the airbag inflators through vents outside of the airbags. The restraints control module – the control center of Ford’s advanced safety systems – adjusts the level of venting based on seat position.

The new passenger airbag is designed to help enhance head and neck protection by better matching deployment force with occupant size. This innovative system uses a small pyrotechnic device to force open the vent and can provide less pressure in the airbag when it’s sufficient to help protect the occupant. “This is our most advanced airbag system ever in a Ford car, and is designed to enhance protection for front occupants in the most common types of crashes,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Each of these airbags uses innovative technologies to help customize airbag protection to the occupant.” Focus is launching Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology designed to help reduce chest and rib injuries

The new airbag technologies debut as standard equipment on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus, which goes on sale early next year in North America. They will be rolled out to other Ford vehicles in the next few years. Data drive new airbag design Ford’s new driver-side airbag was designed to enhance chest and rib protection based in part on Ford’s biomechanical research. In particular, Ford found this type of enhanced chest protection technology would be especially helpful in more serious crashes. “While seat belts and airbags provide proven protection for drivers of all ages, elderly drivers remain at higher risk of injury than younger drivers due to the nature of collision forces,” said Frank Heitplatz, Ford supervisor of occupant safety integration. “Decades of biomechanical research at Ford continue to spur refinement of the safety technologies in our vehicles to further reduce the risks of severe injuries.”

Focus’s strength on safety
In addition to the new airbags, the new Focus’s vehicle structure provides enhanced crash protection as well as improved vehicle dynamics. High-strength steels comprise 55 percent of the Focus’s body shell, and ultra-high-strength and boron steels make up more than 31 percent of its skeletal structure. These advanced materials help the structure meet crash regulations across world markets, while minimizing the vehicle’s weight to help maximize fuel economy.
“High-strength steels were key to delivering the lighter weight and higher strength we needed for structural efficiency,” said Shawn Morgans, Ford technical leader in body engineering. “We believe the materials used on the new Focus are setting a new benchmark in the small car segment.”

Ford was the first automaker to begin airbag research five decades ago. It fielded an airbag test fleet in 1971, offered a driver-side airbag in 1985 and standardized driver and front passenger airbags in most vehicles by 1993. In recent years, Ford has introduced a variety of crash protection systems – ranging from canopy airbags to knee bolsters – designed to improve occupant protection. Ford has the most Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of any automaker.

Bron | Media Ford

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