title: Evaluation of advanced air bag deployment algorithm performance using event data recorders.
abstract: This paper characterizes the field performance of occupant restraint systems designed with advanced air bag features including those specified in the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 for advanced air bags, through the use of Event Data Recorders (EDRs). Although advanced restraint systems have been extensively tested in the laboratory, we are only beginning to understand the performance of these systems in the field. Because EDRs record many of the inputs to the advanced air bag control module, these devices can provide unique insights into the characteristics of field performance of air bags. The study was based on 164 advanced air bag cases extracted from NASS/CDS 2002-2006 with associated EDR data. In this dataset, advanced driver air bags were observed to deploy with a 50% probability at a longitudinal delta-V of 9 mph for the first stage, and at 26 mph for both inflator stages. In general, advanced air bag performance was as expected, however, the study identified cases of air bag deployments at delta-Vs as low as 3-4 mph, non-deployments at delta-Vs over 26 mph, and possible delayed air bag deployments.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Hampton C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gabler
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hinch
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D017278:Air Bags; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States