Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[U.K.-based team develops hood-mounted airbag for pedestrian safety]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/u-k-based-team-develops-hood-mounted-airbag-for-pedestrian-safe/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/u-k-based-team-develops-hood-mounted-airbag-for-pedestrian-safe/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/u-k-based-team-develops-hood-mounted-airbag-for-pedestrian-safe/#commentsFiled under:



These days, it's nearly impossible to find a new automobile that doesn't come equipped with a barrage of airbags to keep the driver and passengers safe in the event of an crash. That's all well and good, but what about the pedestrians that happen to be in the vehicle's line of fire?

A team in the U.K., led by Roger Hardy of Cranfield University, has developed a new hood-mounted airbag system that would theoretically improve the safety of pedestrians that come face-to-face with the windshield of your car. When not in use, the U-shaped airbag hides away underneath the car's hood at the base of the windshield and doesn't restrict the driver's view.

Just prior to impact, the airbag would deploy to protect the unfortunate pedestrian from making contact with the car's windshield or A-pillars. At the same time, the car's hood would rise to provide added crumple room over the engine compartment. The team believes its system could be put into production within five years without a substantial increase in cost while cutting pedestrian injuries in half.

[Source: Telegraph]

U.K.-based team develops hood-mounted airbag for pedestrian safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 May 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbaghood airbagHoodAirbagpedestrianpedestrian airbagpedestrian safetyPedestrianAirbagPedestrianSafetywindshield airbagWindshieldAirbagFri, 01 May 2009 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyoda proves you can never have enough airbags]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/toyoda-proves-you-can-never-have-enough-airbags/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/toyoda-proves-you-can-never-have-enough-airbags/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/toyoda-proves-you-can-never-have-enough-airbags/#commentsFiled under: , ,



First came driver airbags, then passenger airbags. Side airbags were followed by curtain airbags. Then knee airbags appeared. With many vehicles on the road already equipped with six or more airbags for passenger safety, and seemingly no interior room left for additional inflatable supplemental restraints, Toyoda Gosei (it's an offshoot of Toyota) is showing a prototype fitted with airbags designed to protect pedestrians--yes, those "innocent victims" outside the vehicle. With a large exterior airbag on each end of the hood (one for the initial hit on the thigh, the other to cushion the secondary skull impact), and even an airbag inside the rear hatch, Toyoda Gosei is touting the concept as having "360-degree airbag protection." Effective or not, we question why the responsibility of pedestrian safety is shifting from the traveler on foot to the driver behind the wheel. Can't we just teach people to stay out of the the street? Thanks for the tip, Diego!

[Source: technabob]

Toyoda proves you can never have enough airbags originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AirbagsMultiple airbagsMultipleAirbagspedestrianToyodaToyoda GoseiToyodaGoseiFri, 06 Jun 2008 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan continues to build a better traffic light]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/nissan-continues-trying-to-build-a-better-traffic-light/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/nissan-continues-trying-to-build-a-better-traffic-light/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/13/nissan-continues-trying-to-build-a-better-traffic-light/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Nissan is about to begin a new phase in its ongoing intelligent transportation system (ITS) project. The idea is that traffic signals can incorporate new technology to help reduce traffic congestion and pedestrian accidents. Using a section of roadway at the company's Kanagawa campus show above, Nissan has fitted new signals and roadside monitors to gather data about traffic flow and pedestrian movements. Some employee cars are actually fitted with data acquisition devices, but they won't need to be as the technology progresses. Rather, the signals themselves will eventually be able to collect all the data in the future.

Of particular interest are things like the length of signal cycles that allow pedestrians to safely cross the street, and the fact that during light traffic times, pedestrians often ignore signals, sometimes with disastrous results. With "smart" traffic lights, the system could offer a walk signal to pedestrians during light traffic for longer periods of time, thus discouraging the practice of jaywalking. There are even implications here for environmental advancements, as signal timing can reduce the idling and stop-and-go situations that add a considerable amount of pollution to the air.

The full release is after the jump.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan continues to build a better traffic light

Nissan continues to build a better traffic light originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>intelligent transportation systemIntelligentTransportationSystemKanagawapedestriantraffic jamtraffic signalTrafficJamTrafficSignalTue, 13 Mar 2007 19:03:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Ferrari F 50 autocrosser misses apex, hits corner worker]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/21/video-ferrari-f-50-autocrosser-misses-apex-hits-corner-worker/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/21/video-ferrari-f-50-autocrosser-misses-apex-hits-corner-worker/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/21/video-ferrari-f-50-autocrosser-misses-apex-hits-corner-worker/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If this doesn't define the phrase "money can't buy brains," then nothing does. It shows what we hope to be the vehicle's owner attempting to autocross a Ferrari F 50 in the wet. Fortunately for us, everything is caught on tape from both inside the car and out. Unfortunately, the only thing that this guy manages to hit is a corner worker, who he nearly runs over and then lands on top of after his hands-on lesson in understeer.

[Source: Winding Road]

VIDEO: Ferrari F 50 autocrosser misses apex, hits corner worker originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocrossFerrari F50FerrariF50pedestrianTue, 21 Nov 2006 17:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese-market Lexus LS460 to get rear-collision detection]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/27/japanese-market-lexus-ls460-to-get-rear-collision-detection/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/27/japanese-market-lexus-ls460-to-get-rear-collision-detection/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/27/japanese-market-lexus-ls460-to-get-rear-collision-detection/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lexus has already talked about a variety of impressive pre-crash safety systems for its upcoming LS flagship sedan (see our post on the LS 600h L), but so far it has all revolved around the front end of the luxury sedan. Toyota is now saying that the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) version of the LS 460 will get a rear collision detection system, which is believed to be the first of its type in the world.

The system uses a rear-facing radar sensor to detect imminent rear collisions, and illuminates a warning lamp for the driver as it measures the position of the front seat passengers' heads and adjusts the position of the vehicle's headrests accordingly to help reduce the risk of whiplash neck injuries.

More information has also trickled out about the front-collision detection technology in the LS, with the automaker stating that the twin front-mounted "stereo" cameras will use infrared illuminators mounted in the headlamps to provide detection and ranging capabilities. Such a system will be capable of detecting pedestrians as well as vehicles, which will give it an advantage over radar-based systems (the Lexus has one of those, too).

[Source: Japan Times]

Japanese-market Lexus LS460 to get rear-collision detection originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Aug 2006 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentcollisionlexusLsls 460ls 600pedestrianpre crashpre-crashpreventionsafetytoyotaSun, 27 Aug 2006 15:56:00 EST