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Audi interaction intelligent restraint systems

Posted on October 15th, 2009 in insurance insurance

Passive safety: an aspect of automotive engineering which were already invented everything? Not at all! Audi builds the imagination of his team to push innovation in this field. Ingolstadt engineers have paid particular attention to safety belts, airbags and seat and backrest. These components interact intelligently in the ranges of products such as A4, A5 and Q5 to provide maximum protection in case of accident.

In today’s traffic conditions, the rear-end collisions are a common type of accident, especially in urban areas. They usually occur between 15 and 50 mph, traffic lights for example. In such a collision, the seat speeds between 7 and 25 km / h in just one tenth of a second. If his head whipped violently backwards instead of staying properly aligned with the thorax, the passenger often suffers from an injury like whiplash, which frequently requires a long and expensive therapy. Insurers estimate that the annual cost of such injuries in Germany exceeds 500 million euros (about $ 765 million).

Passengers on an Audi are safer when such collisions
The seats and headrests are designed specifically to address the rear shock. The shape of the folder structure, a strong back cushion and a layer of cushioning foam allow the back to sink slightly into the file so that the head is caught for a moment before by the strong support behind her head. In cases of severe rear impact, seat belt pretensioners of A4, A5 and Q5 are released in order to optimize the position of passengers.

Most Audi models use a system of integral headrests. The brand has already received a grade of “good” during independent testing, including the prestigious International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group (IIWPG) who specializes in the prevention of lashes. The German automobile association ADAC and magazines have reached similar conclusions, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States.

Among road accidents more serious the collision remains the type of accident most common, accounting for 50% of all accidents.

Fortunately, the collisions are not the most dangerous, because the deformation zones, steering systems, steering columns, seat belts and airbags have greatly reduced the risk of injury. But Audi is not content with existing solutions and has developed an adaptive restraint system for models A4, A5 and Q5. It offers the best possible protection for passengers of different sizes, but more importantly, it greatly reduces the severity of injuries to passengers smaller and lighter. The Audi engineers have given the subsystems to each other to create an innovative network of high precision. In their work, they also used the results of crash tests performed by the home AARU (Audi Accident Research Unit, see Audi Technology ABC).

The rails of the front seats are equipped with sensors that determine if the seat is positioned forward or rearward. These data enter into the calculations of the restraint system. Because the computer knows the approximate position of the passenger against the airbag, it can ensure the optimal use of space travel before – the distance in which the upper body is slowed down by the belt and airbag – greatly reducing the effect of shock.

The functioning of adaptive airbags for the current Audi range is based on a new strategy of phased deployment. Airbags, a volume of 64 liters left and 120 liters right unfold differently than those of a traditional two-step: they deployed first ever fully to slow rapidly passengers. However, if the shock is not violent, or when a person (usually smaller than average) sits near the airbag, a pit lower restraint enough. In both cases, part of the volume of air is expelled through the valve using special: the airbag softens and intercepts the head and thorax more slowly. When a violent accident, by cons, or when large passengers are seated farther airbags, valves remain closed longer, and the airbag exerts its maximum holding force.

The force limiters safety belts are also flexible. In this subsystem, two small torsion bars are connected by toothed wheels. For those smaller and lighter, the torsion bars are immediately disengaged. The belt is thus less tense, allowing the upper torso sinking into the airbag, which reduces the load on the chest. In case of severe accidents, the torsion bars are disengaged later or not at all, increasing the holding force of the belt.

The IIHS recently awarded the mention of “Top Safety Pick” in no fewer than four Audi models for the second time running for their high degree of safety. And in the Euro NCAP tests, the Audi A4 achieved the highest rating, five stars.