The Evolution of Airbag Technology

The airbag's history began in the 1950s. John Hetrick patented the first inflatable crash-landing device, inspired by a near accident. Hetrick's design, however, was never commercially adopted, but it laid the groundwork for future developments in car safety.

In the 1970s, Ford and General Motors began exploring airbags, with GM installing them in a limited number of vehicles. These early models were rudimentary, only inflating in front-end collisions and not as advanced as today's systems.

The 1980s saw mandatory automatic seat belts or airbags in cars, but it wasn't until 1998 that airbags became standard in all new cars, drastically improving driver and passenger safety on the road.

Advancements in sensor technology led to 'smart' airbags in the 2000s, capable of detecting seat occupancy, passenger size, seat position, and crash severity, enabling them to deploy more safely and effectively.

Improvements in airbag technology introduced side-impact and curtain airbags, significantly protecting occupants in side collisions and rollovers. These airbags have been pivotal in reducing fatalities and severe injuries in types of accidents where standard front airbags are less effective.

Recent innovations include pedestrian airbags, which deploy on the outside of the vehicle to protect pedestrians in a collision. First introduced by Volvo in 2012, these airbags cushion the impact against the windshield, an area often causing serious pedestrian injuries.

Emerging technologies are shaping the future of airbags, including the development of rear-seat airbags and even external airbags to protect vehicles from side collisions. These advancements continue to push the boundaries of vehicular safety.

Early airbag experiments used compressed air from torpedoes to inflate prototypes, showcasing the innovative yet unorthodox methods in the development of this crucial safety feature.