Toyoda Gosei develops pedestrian protection airbag

Kiyosu, Japan – Toyoda Gosei Co. has developed a pedestrian safety airbag that is designed to protect the pedestrian’s head when hit by a vehicle. 

This is the first time the Japanese components manufacturer has developed an airbag that protects pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, Toyoda Gosei said in a 27 Oct statement.

The airbag covers the rigid parts of the vehicle, such as the front pillars, where the likelihood of fatal injury is the highest. 

The internal pressure is adjusted to the optimum level for each part of the vehicle covered, mitigating impacts to the head, the company said.

According to Toyoda Gosei, the structure of the valve keeps the airbag’s internal pressure and the valve closes when the pedestrian’s head is caught by the bag.

The airbags are being used on the Subaru Legacy Outback models for Japan, which are released this month.