Autoliv has accounted for virtually all major technological breakthroughs in the occupant restraint industry over the last 20 years and continues to be in the forefront of development. The new Peugeot 407, which was launched in 2004, is an example of a new vehicle with many state-of-the-art safety products from Autoliv.
1. Passenger airbag
Estimated to reduce fatalities in frontal crashes by approximately 20% (for
belted occupants). It deploys in 50 milliseconds, half the time of the blink
of an eye. The passenger airbag in the new Peugeot 407 is smart. Consequently,
the power of the airbag can be tuned to the severity of the crash, using a dual-stage
inflator i.e. an airbag inflator with two separate charges.
2. Curtain airbags
Estimated to reduce the risk for life-threatening head injuries by more than
50% when occupants are sitting on the side of the vehicle that is struck. Curtain
airbags deploy four times faster than the blink of an eye. Curtain airbags were
invented by Autoliv and introduced in 1998. They are manufactured using Autoliv's
patented one-piece weaving technology.
3. ACU
The electronic airbag control unit (ACU) is located in the middle of the vehicle,
where it is well protected. This electronic brain of the car's safety systems
decides not only if and exactly when the seat belt pretensioners should be fired
but also if and when each airbag should be deployed. The central unit contains
a crash sensor and a microprocessor. There are also satellite sensors in the
doors for side-impact collisions. In total, there are four sensor inlets to
the ACU in the Peugeot 407 and 15 outlets for the nine airbags and the four
pretensioners. The dual-stage inflators in the two smart frontal airbags need
two of the outlets each.
4. Knee airbag
Today, when people's lives are saved by airbags and advanced seat belts, it
is becoming increasingly important to also reduce knee and leg injuries so people
not only survive but can walk and lead a normal life after a crash.
Knee airbags protect both the knees and the upper legs. If the occupant is unbelted,
the knee airbag also enhances the protection of the frontal airbag. Knee airbags
deploy in 40 milliseconds.
Knee airbags were introduced by Autoliv in 1996.
5. Steering wheel
Many new driver airbags are sourced with the steering wheel and attached with
a snap fit, which speeds up the manufacturing process at the vehicle assembly
line and reduces weight and material use. Autoliv introduced this concept in
1995. For the Peugeot 407, Autoliv delivers both the 4-spoke standard steering
wheel and a 3-spoke, leather-wrapped sports wheel.
6. Driver airbag
Driver airbags are estimated to reduce driver fatalities in frontal crashes
by approximately 25% (for belted drivers) and serious head injuries by over
60%. The driver airbag in the new Peugeot 407 has Autoliv's latest invention,
a dual-volume bag, which inflates to either 45 or 65 liters depending on the
severity of the crash.
7. Thorax side airbags
Thorax or chest airbags were introduced by Autoliv in 1994 and are estimated
to reduce the risk of serious chest injuries in side impact crashes by approximately
25%. Thorax side-airbags deploy eight times faster than the blink of an eye.
In the new Peugeot 407, thorax bags are standard in the front seats and optional
in the back seat.
8. Seat belt systems
Produced by Autoliv since 1956. Seat belts are estimated to reduce the overall
risk for serious injuries in frontal crashes by 60-70%. In the Peugeot 407,
both the belts in the front seat and the belts in the outboard positions in
the rear seat have the advanced seat belt technologies:
Pretensioners which tighten the belt up to 15 cm (6 inches) at the onset of a crash, using a small pyrotechnic charge. Thereby, slack is eliminated and the restraining of the occupant starts as early as possible. The occupant is not caught by a sudden jerk and hence the risk of rib fractures is reduced. Pretensioners were introduced in 1989 by Autoliv.
Load limiters pay out some webbing before the load on the occupant's chest becomes too high. The excessive energy is instead absorbed more uniformly by the frontal airbag. In combination with pretensioners, this reduces the risk for life-threatening chest injuries by 75% in frontal crashes. Load limiters were introduced by Autoliv in 1995.