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How Airbags Work

The airbag is stored inside the steering wheel or instrument panel, and it inflates instantly to protect the passenger in the event of a head-on collision. It is intended to be used as a supplementary device to the seat belt. Many BMWs have airbags designed to protect passengers from side collisions as well. 

Airbag systems consist of a sensing device (acceleratometer), that sends an airbag inflate signal to the airbag when a collision is detected, and a bag module that activates a compressed gas system that inflates the air bag when it receives the inflate signal. 

When the collision detection circuit detects an impact, a microcomputer in the system triggers the inflation system in the airbag, which begins to inflate approximately 1/10th of a second after detection. This is quicker than the blink of an eye. 

Airbags are made of a tough synthetic material, most commonly a woven nylon fabric called Nylon 66. 

featured sites

Featured Sites

How Stuff Works has a comprehensive, illustrated tutorial about auto air bags.

Air Bags article from the US National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration.

About your airbags article on airbag design, proper usage and sitting position. In Spanish and English. Click here for a Quicktime video of airbag deployment.

Chemistry Behind Airbags is a technical article with charts, graphs and a movie.

How airbags prevent automobile injuries.

Airbags, For Added Safety info page has background on airbags.

Airbag info page has an explanation of how they work.

Air bag deactivation is Transport Canada's article about air bags; how they work, potential problems, and tips for proper use.

Control your airbags. Under certain conditions, you can switch your airbags off. This company makes a switch.

Airbags can cause hearing loss, says a doctor.

What Every Consumer Should Know About Airbags and other news.

Safetyforum.com tells the Truth About Airbags.

Salvage Airbags Tested at I-CAR Canada with some surprising results!

Smarter Airbags have better sensors.

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles presents airbags, myths and truths, resources and more.

Beware: They're selling cars without airbags.

The British government is funding research into cars with airbags on the outside of the vehicle to save pedestrian lives. Test cars at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) in Crowthorne, Berkshire, are being equipped with the system.

Resources on airbags from mythbuster Michael Fumento.

Comments on Airbags and Driver Safety on airbag use in Europe.


Where to get Airbags:

Organizations:

books

Books

Books (USA):
  • Safety Belts, Airbags, and Child Restraints : Research to Address Emerging Policy Questions (Paperback - August 1989)
  • Airbags Chemistry Connections by Moore (Paperback - August 1998)
  • Issues in Automotive Safety Technology : Offset Frontal Crashes, Airbags, and Belt Restraint Effectiveness (Sp-1072)

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