Automotive Engineering - August 2024 - 27

SAFETY-SYSTEMS INNOVATIONS FEATURE
When needed,
the top-deployed
airbag expands out
of the top of the center
of the steering wheel and
through the top rim.
ZF Lifetec's ACR8 seat-belt tensioner.
" Look far into the future.
We need to start to think about
how to design airbag solutions
for that. "
factors for some of ZF Lifetec's new safety announcements.
Future automated vehicle provide their own
challenges, which is where ZF's new dual contour airbag
comes in.
Meet the dual-contour airbag
This airbag can deploy in one of two volumes, depending
on the seat position of the seat occupant (it works on the
passenger or driver side). In case of a crash, a dual-stage
inflator engages one or both parts of an airbag that can
thus cover the additional distance between the driver in
a reclined position and the steering wheel, up to between
150 and 200 mm (6-8 in). Schledorn told SAE Media the
dual contour airbag could be up to 190 liters (7 cu ft),
compared to the average driver-side airbag today of
around 60 liters (2 cu ft).
" When we release the tether, then we are providing
a bit more additional volume to cover the additional
distance, " Schledorn said.
Just as with the top-mounted airbag, ZF Lifetec's
trend monitoring helped it decide to design this twostage
airbag. Schledorn said it's obvious that some
sort of new seating positions, including reclined seating
positions, are on the way. There's also the possibility
that steering wheels will retract into the IP.
" This is providing more roominess to the driver, and
that then requires passive safety solutions to protect
the driver in both scenarios, " Schledorn said. " In case of
a crash, a small separate pyrotechnic unit gets an electrical
signal to release the tether to provide additional
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
ZF Lifetec's new dual-contour airbag can expand up to 190 liters (7 cu ft), more
than three times the size of the average driver-side airbag today of around 60
liters (2 cu ft).
bag volume to cover this additional distance between the driver and
the steering wheel. "
ZF LIfetec expects to go into production with the top-mounted
and dual-contour airbags in 2027 or soon after. It would not disclose
which potential customers it is working with.
Looking further ahead, ZF Lifetec spokesperson Knut Zimmer told
SAE Media that while the Euro NCAP 2030 safety roadmap includes
" Testing and assessment of assisted and automated driver support
systems, " it does not include requirements for future AV possibilities
like fully rotating chairs. Still, Schledorn said ZF is already starting to
play in this arena.
" Look far into the future, at what's happening in, I don't know,
2040 or whatever, " he said. " We need to start to think about how to
design airbag solutions for that. I know that we have some ideas on
what to do when drivers are sitting in new positions, in rotated seats
or whatever, but we need alternative approaches. "
August 2024 27
ALL IMAGES: ZF LIFETEC
Automotive Engineering - August 2024

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