Photo Gallery Saved by Air
Thousands of pedestrians die each year in road accidents, but so far few carmakers have shown much interest in developing safety features to protect those outside the car. Now Swedish auto company Volvo has produced the first external airbag -- and it could save lives.
Swedish auto company Volvo has produced the first external airbag designed to save pedestrian lives. The following photo series, supplied by Volvo, shows the airbag performing during a crash test.
Seven sensors at the front of the car must be able to recognize that the vehicle is in fact striking a human leg and not, for example, a shopping cart.
Gunpowder capsules then lift the car's hood out of its hinges, opening a slit through which the airbag emerges, expanding to its volume of 120 liters (30 US gallons) in a fraction of a second.
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