The amount of pressure required to activate a supplemental restraint system (SRS) is a precisely calculated value, determined by factors including vehicle speed, impact severity, occupant weight, and seatbelt usage. This careful calibration ensures the airbag deploys with sufficient force to mitigate injury during a collision, but not with excessive force that could cause harm itself. For example, a low-speed collision might not necessitate deployment, while a high-speed impact requires rapid inflation to cushion the occupant against the steering wheel, dashboard, or other vehicle structures.
Properly calibrated deployment thresholds are critical for maximizing occupant safety. Historically, early airbag systems faced challenges related to inadvertent deployments or deployments with excessive force, leading to injuries in some cases. Modern systems utilize sophisticated sensors and algorithms to optimize deployment parameters, improving safety outcomes significantly. This precise calibration, coupled with advancements in airbag design and materials, has made airbags an essential component of modern vehicle safety systems, demonstrably reducing fatalities and serious injuries in collisions.
