Gerald Keller

Rear Impact Air Bag Protection System

Although rear impact accidents produce relatively few severe injuries, National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System database analysis has determined that rear impact accidents are second only to frontal impacts in terms of cost to society. This paper discusses a new system level approach for rear impact occupant protection. After reviewing automotive safety research, it is proposed that optimized rear impact protection is offered by supporting the vehicle occupants head, neck, and torso in rear impact accidents. An unfurled air bag has been developed that provides energy absorption for the torso by deploying inside the seat back cushion and extending vertically to support the occupants head. Preliminary dynamic testing indicates that the rear impact air bag allows the occupant to ride down the cushion onto the seat back structure, reducing 50% Hybrid III Male Anthropomorphic Test Dummy injury scores.