Crash Sensors

Introduction

The Mercedes S-Class car is to be launched in North America in 2013. What stands out about this new
model is its airbag control technology. Mercedes have now introduced a beltbag airbag for backseat
passengers. The airbag works as an inflatable seatbelt that inflates upon frontal impact from another
vehicle. In this new model, the purpose of this inflatable seatbelt is to reduce the strain that is normally
placed on the ribcage during a collision. Activation of automotive airbags is triggered by crash sensors
(also known as impact sensors) that work to detect frontal impact and trigger a control unit that deploys
the airbag to cushion the passenger.

Mass-Type Sensor

An impact sensor is normally fitted to the front of the vehicle as this is where a collision is likely to occur.
The sensor is positioned inside the engine and a similar safety sensor is located inside the passenger zone
to the vehicle. This safety sensor is required to measure the intensity of the collision to determine whether
the impact is over a certain threshold to justify release of an airbag. Both types of sensors (termed inertia
sensors) work on the principle of detecting a decrease in acceleration of a moving vehicle and generate an
electrical impulse. Figure 1 is a schematic
diagram of an inertial sensor.

Figure 1. Structural components to an Inertia

sensor. Source: Duffy, J.E. (2001). I-Car
Professional Automotive Collision Repair.
New York: Delmar, a division of Thomas
Learning.
During a collision with another moving
vehicle, the sensing mass is forced forward
into the gold-plated contacts as a result of
change in the state of motion. Following
movement of this metal ball into the contacts, this metal mass makes contact with electrical terminals at
either side of the metal ball which alerts the central unit to a collision (i.e., the electrical contact
completes the circuit).

Roller-Type Sensor
The roller-type sensor involves a weight connected to a coil spring component. Like the mass-type sensor,
during impact with an oncoming vehicle, the metal weight is forced forward which alters the tension on
the coil spring to manipulate the electrical circuit that closes off the sensor contact. It is important to note
that the impact and safety sensors must activate and close off at the same time to allow for deployment of
the airbag (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Functional principle to a

typical roller type airbag sensor.
Source: Erjavec, J. (2010).
Automotive Technology: A Systems
Approach. New York: Delmar,
Cengage Learning.
Upon signal of a collision, the
controller interprets the electrical
input and measures the level of
collision to determine release of an airbag. In the event of one impact sensor and safety sensor being
closed, an electrical current is transmitted to an airbag module which contains the airbag and inflator
assembly. Activation of the airbag results in an ignition that produces an electrical transmission between a
pair of metal pins. The electrical arc created between both pins activates a propellant (made up of sodium
azide) that starts to burn and give off nitrogen gas, and it is this gas that starts to fill the airbag. The Volvo
V40 model takes airbag technology to a new level by deploying a pedestrian airbag upon impact on the
bumper to this car. The following video demonstrates the world’s first pedestrian airbag technology.

Similar airbag control units currently on the market include a model introduced by TRW. This integrated
control module detects vehicle impact by using an occupant dynamic-based algorithm, which meets all
North American and European regulations with a rollover sensor adapting a functional system similar to
the type discussed in this article. The idea of an integrated airbag control unit has many advantages:

 Increased sensitivity of the moving vehicle by placing the integrated control module in the
vehicle’s center of gravity
 Integrated crash sensors diversifies the diagnostics on a collision
 Increased precision of the integrated sensor technology to allow for better safety
 Cost-effective if all crash sensor systems are integrated into one module.
Traditional airbag systems have adopted mechanical airbag sensors such as the mass and roller type
sensors. Since the introduction of this technology, there has been application of more sophisticated
sensing systems such as the electronic crash sensors and sensor microsystems. Radar, infrared and image
processing are currently implemented to work with a vehicle control unit to anticipate space and timing in
relation to a possible collision. As the world continues to develop a more eco-friendly approach to living,
it will be interesting to see how advanced environmental sensors contribute to the design and engineering
of a car to help avoid collision and improve safety measures.

Siemens VDO Automotive has developed a sensor that speeds vehicle crash detection by "hearing" the
impact, rather than measuring deceleration. The Crash Impact Sound Sensor (CISS) mounts to a vehicle's
chassis where it monitors noise vibrations. When a crash occurs, the sensor registers the sound wave
variations caused by the deformation of steel chassis components and alerts reactive safety devices like air
bags and seat belt pretensioners. this method provides faster, more precise results than the accelerometers
normally deployed, in part because as crumple-zone engineering has become more sophisticated at slowing
impact forces, measuring rapid deceleration has become more difficult. Sound wave signals, however, are
unaffected. "As soon as the deformation of metal occurs the signal is transmitted, so it is available earlier
on in a crash than deceleration data,". This allows automakers to shave vital milliseconds off of the
deployment time of safety measures.

In recent years, the demand for more auto safety features and better crash-rating systems has increased,
with the increasing number of crashes and the fatalities and injuries related to these crashes. Automobile
manufacturers have also begun incorporating more sophisticated technology into their designs.

The introduction of a pre-collision/collision avoidance system is one of the major developments that
manufacturers hope will reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on the road.

This technology continuously evaluates the position of a driver as well as any obstacles on the road to
prevent damage caused by an accident. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have summarised the
various types of sensor systems designed for forward collision avoidance technology:

Collision Avoidance Technologies

There are a number of vehicle features that could be considered as collision avoidance technologies.
Some of the most common and promising systems are listed below:

Forward collision avoidance system – It alerts the driver when the vehicle is getting close to another
vehicle in front of it. It employs various sensors such as cameras, RADAR or LIDAR to sense the objects
or other vehicles in front of the vehicle. A forward collision warning system provided with autonomous
braking can reduce the speed of the vehicle thereby mitigating the effect of collision.

Adaptive cruise control - Adaptive cruise control maintains the vehicle's pre-set speed. It automatically
slows down the vehicle in heavy traffic to maintain a safe gap. Forward-mounted sensors keep track of
the distance to the vehicle at the front. The vehicle accelerates to maintain the preset cruise speed as the
traffic speeds up.

Lane departure warning and prevention system – This system employs cameras to track the position
of the vehicle within the lane and alert the driver if the vehicle is in danger. Certain systems offer haptic
warnings such as seat or steering vibrations, while others provide audible and/or visual warnings.

Blind spot detection system - This sensor network system monitors the blind spots at the front, side and
rear areas of the vehicle. Most of the systems provide visual alerts appearing on or near the side view
mirrors upon detecting the blind spot.

An audible alert is activated when the driver signals a turn, and the vehicle is headed towards the blind
spot on the turning side.

Certain systems may also activate the steering controls or brake to maintain the vehicle in its lane.

Park assist and backover prevention system -assists drivers to park and back up their vehicles. Rear
object detection systems make use of sensors and cameras to enable the driver to look for the objects in
the rear side of the vehicle while backing up.

Adaptive headlight alert drivers to visualize objects better on dark, curved roads. The headlight pivots in
the direction of a moving vehicle to illuminate the road ahead based on the vehicle’s speed and steering
wheel movement.

Fatigue warning systems employ sophisticated algorithms to monitor the steering control and other
behaviors such as blink duration and blink rate of the driver. This system is designed to warn the driver if
it detects drowsiness or inattention.
Curve speed warning system monitors the vehicle as it approaches bends in the road by using a global
positioning system and digital map. Curve speed sensors alerts the driver if the system senses that the
vehicle is nearing a curve at an over speed.

How Collision Avoidance System Works?

Pre-collision systems include small radar detectors placed near the front of the car, where the detectors
constantly emit high-frequency radar waves.

These waves will then bounce off the closest objects and return to the sensor. Evaluation systems
connected to the sensor measures the time taken for the signal to hit the object and bounce back. The
system uses this information to determine the position, distance and speed of the vehicle instantly.

Certain systems provide an alarm signal to notify the driver that a collision may happen, while others
have pre-crash brake systems that apply additional pressure to the vehicle's braking system to help the
driver in slowing down the car and avoiding a potential accident.

Once the airbag control unit determines detects an accident, it transmits a signal to an inflator system. The
inflator is activated to produce an explosion of nitrogen gas to fill up the airbag. As the airbag fills up, it
bursts through the panel in which it is present and enters the space inside the car to provide a cushioning
system for the occupant. As a result, the occupant is prevented from being thrown up forward during the
accident. The entire process of airbag protection happens within 25 to 50 ms.

After the crash, the airbag control unit cuts the fuel supply, unlocks the door and suspends the electrical
power supply.