More Design Freedom with Roof-mounted Airbags

The article explores the challenges posed by larger screens and spacious glove compartments in modern passenger cars, which complicate the integration of traditional passenger airbags. It introduces ZF's third-generation roof-mounted front airbag (Bag-in-Roof, BiR) as a solution, offering greater design freedom for autonomous shuttles and robotaxis. The BiR system, designed to meet increasing occupant protection requirements, reduces dimensions and weight, making it suitable for various vehicle categories. The new PHI7 inflator enables larger airbag volumes and significant weight reduction, while the patented bag cushion improves occupant crash kinematics. The article also discusses the growing demand for BiR solutions from Chinese OEMs and their potential use in new vehicle concepts such as autonomous shuttles and robo-taxis. Additionally, it introduces ZF's Overhead Airbag (OHAB) technology, which offers unique self-supporting capabilities and smaller inflated volumes, further enhancing occupant safety and design flexibility in future vehicles.