Arn't airbags great.

kerny · 11 December 2012, 13:40

Old Woman tests airbag - YouTube

Hightower · 11 December 2012, 15:16

Was quite funny! However that's surely a set-up? If airbags went of that easily then I'd have got through loads whilst shunting my boat around. Don't they operate on speed/kinetic sensors like seat belts do?

Ian M · 11 December 2012, 17:24

To answer the OP, NO! Years ago I managed to write off a SAAB 9000 Aero, and the only injury was burns on my wrists from the b____y airbag!

Hightower · 11 December 2012, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian M

To answer the OP, NO! Years ago I managed to write off a SAAB 9000 Aero, and the only injury was burns on my wrists from the b____y airbag!

Whilst you brought up the subject Ian. I know someone who I used to work with who's wife was blinded and received burns from an Airbag failure.

kerny · 11 December 2012, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Was quite funny! However that's surely a set-up? If airbags went of that easily then I'd have got through loads whilst shunting my boat around. Don't they operate on speed/kinetic sensors like seat belts do?

I think it's genuine, the old lady has obviously been on the Iron Brew cos the speed of her handbag hitting the grill must've been at least 20mph

rigi36 · 11 December 2012, 19:25

It's the deceleration that sets them off.

Hightower · 12 December 2012, 00:24

It might have been genuine 30 years ago but on a modern car....I don't think so. Airbag technology is such these days that the airbag computer gets info on speed of car, decelleration and what type of impact to decide what airbag should be deployed and when it should be deployed. I believe that many airbags won't activate under a certain speed as a safety measure. You wouldn't want it to destroy your dash just from a slow speed shunt? Also the airbag inflates much slower than one would expect.

Leapy · 12 December 2012, 03:47

Airbags systems of the last 30 yrs are deployed by a control unit that responds to a crash pulse signature - unique to every model of car - received these days from one sensor but up to five in earliest times. The deployment is a function of deceleration AND time. A simple blow from an old lady and her handbag is neither strong enough nor long enough.

Typically, air bags never deploy at speeds of less than 19mph, the speed below which no serious injury would occur to an unbelted occupant.

The whole airbag deployment event is over in around 60ms - if you're going to get hurt it will be in this time window. When the 60ms starts is a function of when the airbag is deployed by the control unit - earlier in a high speed event, later in a lower speed event.

Hightower · 12 December 2012, 05:28

I think that I'm right in saying that for a long time manufacturers of cars have been looking at inventing/developing an intelligent explosive charge, one that gives variable inflation rates. They have to date been unable to find anything that can react quick enough in the event of an accident. Come on guys, get your thinking caps on!

jyasaki · 12 December 2012, 05:38

Airbags deploy at something like 200-300mph. That guy would be picking the lenses out of his head, not simply removing his shades.

And not a chance that hitting a bumper will set it off.

As I recall, it was an ad for something but I don't remember what (wasn't it on this site a few months back? )

jky

Leapy · 12 December 2012, 05:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I think that I'm right in saying that for a long time manufacturers of cars have been looking at inventing/developing an intelligent explosive charge, one that gives variable inflation rates. They have to date been unable to find anything that can react quick enough in the event of an accident. Come on guys, get your thinking caps on!

Most are 'intelligent' these days, albeit to varying degrees based on price point. The sensor data is processed through an algorithm that determines firing time and deployment speed. Some more expensive cars use occupant position sensors to detect how the occupant is sitting - slouched, to one side, standing child (for Christ's sake), belted or unbelted - and deploy the bag, or not, appropriate to that.

Hightower - we tend to term airbag inflations as deployments. Customers tend to get fidgety around the words explosive charge :-)

What have we been unable to find that's quick enough? Wasn't aware we had a problem ;-)

Leapy · 12 December 2012, 06:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

Customers tend to get fidgety around the words explosive charge :-)

To say nothing of m'learned friends

m chappelow · 12 December 2012, 13:30

Idiotic Airbag Prank - YouTube

Powerfull things and not to be taken lightly they could seriously maim or kill someone
I certainly wouldent go messing about with one !

And a reason why you should never cross your arms over on the steering wheel ,, if it goes off your arm will smash into your face .

Hightower · 12 December 2012, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

What have we been unable to find that's quick enough? Wasn't aware we had a problem ;-)

It was an article I was reading a while ago. Nothing to do with fast enough! But an explosive or device that could give out varying amounts of gas in the given time frame. For instance a low speed impact would inflate slightly less and a high speed one the airbag would inflate more.

kerny · 12 December 2012, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by m chappelow

Idiotic Airbag Prank - YouTube

Powerfull things and not to be taken lightly they could seriously maim or kill someone
I certainly wouldent go messing about with one !

And a reason why you should never cross your arms over on the steering wheel ,, if it goes off your arm will smash into your face .

lucky he wasn't seriously hurt

willk · 12 December 2012, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerny

lucky he wasn't seriously hurt

What makes you think he wasn't? Imagine what that would do to the spine!

willk · 12 December 2012, 15:04

Talking about really stupid and dangerous workplace messing, it reminds me of this, where the recipient wasn't as willing. Quite chilling really:

Gardai question three over horror prank on student - National News - Independent.ie

kerny · 12 December 2012, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Talking about really stupid and dangerous workplace messing, it reminds me of this, where the recipient wasn't as willing. Quite chilling really:

Gardai question three over horror prank on student - National News - Independent.ie

They must have known that what they did would cause serious harm , and I hope that they were convicted and sentenced accordingly.

gtb · 12 December 2012, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

As I recall, it was an ad for something but I don't remember what (wasn't it on this site a few months back? )

IKEA, apparently.

Museum of Hoaxes Road Rage Video

Leapy · 12 December 2012, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

It was an article I was reading a while ago. Nothing to do with fast enough! But an explosive or device that could give out varying amounts of gas in the given time frame. For instance a low speed impact would inflate slightly less and a high speed one the airbag would inflate more.

Yep, quite number do that now although, again, it's a price point thing as it requires intelligence that costs. They're referred to as two stage inflators. A 'light' stage for lower speed impacts were the bag can be less aggressive (softer) and a 'heavier' stage for higher speeds where there's more occupant energy involved