Inflatable roof pillars could become a reality in future
vehicle structures, according to a blog posting by Frank Markus in Motor Trend
magazine online.
Markus said that Swedish airbag supplier Autoliv has
developed a way to inflate a folded steel tube instead of a cloth bag that's
integral to the vehicle's body structure. The idea, he says, is to provide a
"slim, minimalist pillar until an accident is detected, then inflate the
pleated steel tube so it expands to a large, strong section. This expansion
pops the interior trim off, but should leave the outer surface and windshield
undisturbed."
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