Advances in Automobile Safety Technology

Mercedes-Benz Debuts New Safety Features in ESF 2009


The German automobile manufacturer Mercedez-Benz has always been known for quality craftsmanship and luxury, but the brand has also been one of the leading developers of safety equipment for automobiles. Mercedes recently took another engineering leap forward by showing off its newest advancements at its American headquarters in Montvale, NJ. These new features, as part of the ESF 2009 concept vehicle, include:

•braking bag

•side doors with gas-fired metal guardrails

•innovative child safety seat design

•interior airbags to protect occupants in rollovers

•shoulder-strap belt airbags for rear passengers

As with all automobile safety features, these components are designed to minimize casualties during automobile impacts by minimizing the forces and accelerations transmitted to the occupants during the impact.


Innovative Braking Airbag

The centerpiece of Mercedes new safety innovations is the braking bag. This specially designed airbag sits beneath the front axle of the vehicle and is designed to deploy 80 to 100 milliseconds before impact. The airbag, coated with heavy-duty rubber and steel, provides several advantages, including increasing the friction between the vehicle and the road, raising the front end of the vehicle to counteract the “nosedive” that occurs during hard braking, and improving the effectiveness of seatbelt tensioners inside the vehicle.



While the increased friction between the braking bag and the road helps to brake the vehicle faster, the lifting action provided by the bag helps to take advantage of the crumple zones in the front end of the vehicle by allowing for better alignment between the vehicle and whatever it is impacting. The lifting action also changes the alignment of the seats and passengers, making interior safety equipment more effective as well.



Additional Innovations in the ESF 2009

The Mercedes ESF 2009 concept vehicle also includes several other interior safety features to protect occupants during a variety of accident scenarios. Interior airbags are designed to keep occupants separated from each other during an impact, particularly in a rollover. Metal side rails help to prevent penetration into the vehicle during side impacts. Shoulder belt airbags for rear seat passengers give occupants of the back seat extra protection. Mercedes has also designed a child safety seat that provides advanced protection for children, particularly in side impacts and rollovers