[Courtesy of Hyundai Mobis]
Cases of victims who were injured after being ejected through vehicle sunroofs in rollover crashes have been reported occasionally worldwide because protection by an airbag system normally does not cover sunroofs.
For the first time in the world, Hyundai Mobis, a car parts maker of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, has developed a new airbag system for panoramic sunroofs.
"After a series of tests which were carried out this month, we have acquired the sunroof airbag system technology advanced enough to be commercialized," Hyundai Mobis said in a statement Wednesday.
The panoramic sunroof is a larger form of the conventional sky-facing window, generally covering about two-thirds of the roof with reinforced glass. Many carmakers adopt panoramic sunroofs because they provide a stronger sense of openness than conventional ones.
Hyundai's new airbag system for panoramic sunroofs would inflate when a sensor detects an abnormality in an angle a vehicle is positioned, covering the roof in just 0.08 seconds, absorbing impact and preventing passengers from flying out.
"The airbag system for panoramic sunroofs successfully protected crash test dummies by reducing the impact to their heads during actual crash tests," said Hyundai Mobis. The company stressed that without its airbag system, crashes could be fatal in real-life situations.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 260 victims were ejected out of sunroofs during rollover crashes which took place in the North American region between 2000 and 2015. The injuries caused by sunroof ejection were concentrated on the neck and head and many were fatal.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
