Innovative Design of External Airbag System for Improved Automotive Safety

Pedestrians remain one of the most vulnerable groups of road users, facing substantial risks of injury and fatality in vehicle collisions. Despite advancements in vehicle safety technologies, pedestrian injuries remain severe due to direct impact with rigid vehicle structures. This study proposes an innovative external airbag system designed to mitigate these risks, particularly in scenarios involving insufficient braking. The system consists of five strategically placed airbags integrated into the front of the vehicle, covering the bumper and bonnet These airbags deploy before impact, aiming to mitigate injury risks to the pedestrian’s pelvis, torso, and head. An advanced sensor system detects imminent collisions through an electronic control unit (ECU), triggering deployment. The bumper airbag cushions the lower body, while the bonnet airbag shields the head from severe impact forces. This anticipatory deployment demonstrates a high capacity to reduce the severity of injuries in simulated conditions by dissipating impact forces and distributing energy over a larger surface area. Simulation results demonstrate the system's effectiveness in reducing both peak impact forces and energy transfer during collisions. The bumper airbag reduces impact force by approximately 66.7%, while the bonnet airbag achieves a substantial reduction of approximately 96%. Comparative analysis between scenarios with and without airbags highlights their role in dissipating kinetic energy, ultimately lowering injury risk. These findings underscore the importance of integrating advanced passive safety systems into vehicle designs, particularly in urban environments where low speed but frequent collisions occur. The novelty of this work lies in introducing an external airbag system tailored specifically for pedestrian protectionan area not yet comprehensively addressed in current vehicle safety standards. A multidisciplinary approach, integrating mechanical engineering, sensor technologies, and automotive design, ensures adaptability across varying traffic conditions and pedestrian behaviours. By bridging the gap between theoretical advancements and potential real-world applications, this research provides a conceptual framework for a scalable safety solution that aims to enhance pedestrian protection in road accidents. In conclusion, the proposed external airbag system represents a promising advancement in pedestrian safety. Through extensive simulation and scaled validation, its potential efficacy in mitigating injury severity has been indicated. This study lays the foundation for future developments in vehicle safety, advocating for the adoption of external airbags as a critical component in pedestrian protection systems. In this thesis, the term “external bumper airbag” is used to describe the proposed system, with “external airbag” and “pedestrian airbag” used interchangeably where appropriate.