Airbags work by means of a chemical reaction and a bunch of sensors. But, before diving deep into the car airbag working, let’s look at some of the main components of the system. An airbag system consists of crash sensors, inflator, airbag module and airbag control unit. These components work in conjunction to efficiently deploy the airbag if there’s an accident/collision. How do airbags open in cars?
So, how does the car airbag system work? Refer to the points below to find out the answer.
So, how does the car airbag system work? Refer to the points below to find out the answer.
- The crash sensors — generally located at the front of the vehicle — relay the signal to the airbag control unit if it detects sudden deceleration.
- The main control unit also receives information from other sensors such as wheel speed sensors, seat occupant status sensors, brake pressure sensors, etc.
- The airbag control unit analyses the data and can activate safety features such as automatic door lock, seatbelt lock and airbag deployment.
- Once the main control unit detects an accident, it sends a signal to the inflator.
- A chemical charge is initiated by the inflator, which produces an explosion of Nitrogen gas. The gas fills up the airbag.
- As soon as the Nitrogen fills the airbag, it bursts through the panel that contains it and provides a cushioning effect to the passenger.
- Lastly, the airbag deflates automatically after deployment.