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[Geek] Volvo to protect pedestrians with external airbags

3K views 68 replies 41 participants last post by  Boyboyd 
#1 ·

Quote:
Make all the jokes you want about Volvo cars being indestructible, but the company knows how to make safe cars. Depicted in the video above is Volvo's latest foray into the bleeding edge of safety technology.

Called Pedestrian Detection, it's a new system geared towards reducing injuries sustained by pedestrians if hit by a car. It works by deploying the world's first external airbag across the windshield and hood to help cushion the impact.
Source

LULz, I'll reserve my sentiments, but I find this rather humorous..
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#6 ·
LOL @ the Failed Pedestrian Video, very funny...

But on a serious note, yeah, if you hit a ped at 30-50 MPH, it doesn't matter they are going to go flying, and the injuries they WILL sustain will indeed cost you some loot, that's for sure.

I mean just pick up your phone book and look at all of the "Injury Attorneys" out there, sheeze!
 
#9 ·
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Originally Posted by Oedipus View Post

The person you hit is still going to lie about the severity of their injuries and you're still going to get sued.
At the end of the day even if the person I hit does take me to the cleaners, I would still be happier if the severity of their injuries was reduced by something like this.

That said, well after seeing that video I don't think this airbag thing is going to do much to reduce injuries to the poor sap you just ran over. They're still hit by the front of the car before rolling up to bounce off the airbag and then flying through the air and hitting the ground/other objects just like a non airbag rundown.

I did like the automatic radar controlled braking. Might reduce the number of jackasses rearending people all over the place.
 
#10 ·
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Originally Posted by SpankyMcFlych View Post

I did like the automatic radar controlled braking. Might reduce the number of jackasses rearending people all over the place.
Automatic radar controlled braking has been around for awhile. I'm actually surprised Volvo didn't have this before, as Volvo is known for there safety features.
 
#13 ·
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Originally Posted by ML241 View Post

If they are hitting pedestrians they deserve to get sued.
I'll take an equally myopic, callous view:

If I hit somebody accidentally and they sue me, I would prefer that their injuries be as severe as possible. Depending on how "the victim" and their counsel handles things, I may even entertain the idea that I should have hit them hard enough to just be done with it. Frivolous, manufactured suits by ambulance chasing attorneys do not impress me at all. This new volvo technology wont help with that.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oedipus View Post

I'll take an equally myopic, callous view:
If I hit somebody accidentally and they sue me, I would prefer that their injuries be as severe as possible. Depending on how "the victim" and their counsel handles things, I may even entertain the idea that I should have hit them hard enough to just be done with it. Frivolous, manufactured suits by ambulance chasing attorneys do not impress me at all. This new volvo technology wont help with that.
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#22 ·
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Originally Posted by prava View Post

So, why bother being sued if your insurance will deal with everything?
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Your premiums will still probably go up.

Totally don't get the radar assisted braking thing. Does it know your speed, the car in front's speed, the distance between. Then does it wait until you're past the point-of-no-return and brake as hard as it can?

Seems to be taking more control away from the driver. I think it's going to cause more problems than it solves. Like automatic parallel parking.
 
#23 ·
This kind of stuff is pretty cool.

What isn't cool is this laser technology crap that automatically makes the vehicle brake whenever the vehicle detects a "threat".

Now as a motorist myself, i trust my judgement far over any machines. I can't even stand ABS because it takes the brake off when i want it most, and i'm perfectly capable of recovering from a slide or skid, thanks.

Thanks Volvo, but i'm more than capable of driving my own vehicle. This is a future of driving that i'm really, really not too keen on seeing. Sadly people just don't want to take responsibility for their own mistakes and i really think before long, we won't even be driving our own vehicles at all.

Total Bs, i gotta be honest. This rubbish reminds me of that scene from The Fifth Element with the machine taxi driver.
 
#24 ·
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Originally Posted by andrews2547 View Post

Those already exist, they're called trains.
They also don't go well with pedestrians.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thingamajig View Post

This kind of stuff is pretty cool.
What isn't cool is this laser technology crap that automatically makes the vehicle brake whenever the vehicle detects a "threat".
Now as a motorist myself, i trust my judgement far over any machines. I can't even stand ABS because it takes the brake off when i want it most, and i'm perfectly capable of recovering from a slide or skid, thanks.
Thanks Volvo, but i'm more than capable of driving my own vehicle. This is a future of driving that i'm really, really not too keen on seeing. Sadly people just don't want to take responsibility for their own mistakes and i really think before long, we won't even be driving our own vehicles at all.
Total Bs, i gotta be honest. This rubbish reminds me of that scene from The Fifth Element with the machine taxi driver.
The automatic braking is actually quite beneficial to those who clearly don't pay attention to the wheel. Which is seen a lot of times on the road, in fact it's what destroyed my old Audi S4. Lady was not paying attention and slammed into the back of my car at around 35mph.

Sure there's the car enthusiasts like you and I, but unfortunately this technology is for those who are bad at driving, or just don't pay attention when driving because they are doing other things.

Also removing the sensor is very easy. At least it is on Audi's.
 
#26 ·
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Originally Posted by Boyboyd View Post

1. Your premiums will still probably go up.
2. Totally don't get the radar assisted braking thing. Does it know your speed, the car in front's speed, the distance between. Then does it wait until you're past the point-of-no-return and brake as hard as it can?
3. Seems to be taking more control away from the driver. I think it's going to cause more problems than it solves. Like automatic parallel parking.
1. This

2. It probably does know what speed you are going by using the ECU (not sure if that is what is used to work out the speed you are going) to know how fast you are going, the radar probably uses sonar pulses to work out the speed and distance from the car in front. I'm not sure if it waits until you are past the point-of-no-return before it brakes as hard as it can though.

3. And this is one of the reasons I don't really want to get a newer car. I'm thinking of getting a late 80s early 90s car or maybe an entry level early 2000s car
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fusion Racing View Post

They also don't go well with pedestrians.
No matter how much technology you cram into a car/train/whatever it won't stop someone jumping out in front of you.
 
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