Honda Develops Pop-Up Bonnet for Increased Pedestrian Safety
Honda Develops Pop-Up Bonnet for Increased Pedestrian Safety
TOKYO - Honda Motor Co has announced development of a pop-up bonnet system for pedestrian safety, which raises the bonnet in the event of a collision, reducing the possibility of serious head injuries by providing added engine compartment clearance.
The pop-up bonnet for pedestrian safety employs three sensors located inside the front bumper and a vehicle speed sensor to determine if an impact with a pedestrian has occurred, then signals an actuator to raise the rear portion of the engine bonnet approximately 10cm. This provides a space between the bonnet, the engine and other hard components to reduce pedestrian head injuries.
Use of the pop-up bonnet for pedestrian safety reduces HIC (Head Injury Criteria) values by approximately 40 per cent reduction, according to Honda’s internal research. This achieves a higher level of pedestrian safety performance even in models where design considerations make it difficult to provide ample clearance between the bonnet, the engine and other hard components.
Honda first introduced its Pedestrian Injury Reduction Body technologies with the HR-V in 1998, employing a body structure designed to reduce impact to the head, the area of many life-threatening injuries. With the release of the Civic in 2000, further measures were added to reduce harm to the legs - a common injury location. Impact-absorbing structures are employed in the bonnet, bonnet hinges, wiper pivots, guards, bumpers, and other components. Currently, most Honda automobiles feature the Pedestrian Injury Reduction Body technologies, with total sales of such models totaling more than 3 million vehicles in Japan.
Honda has long been involved in research into safety technologies based on real-world crash conditions. Particularly in the area of pedestrian-related accidents, Honda has taken the lead ahead of other manufacturers, unveiling the world’s first pedestrian dummy, the POLAR I, in 1998, to help clarify the kinematics of accidents involving pedestrians and to support development of pedestrian protection technologies. This was followed in 2000 by the POLAR II, which features an even more human-like structure and is equipped with sensing devices at more key points of measurement. Honda is committed to the further development of technologies designed to help prevent accidents involving pedestrians.
25 August 2004
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