The new Pedestrian Protection System has up to three Remote Acceleration Sensors (RAS) located in the front bumper, that transmit acceleration signals to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which analyzes the data. The sensors can detect if the car collided with with a human body (of various sizes) or another another type of object.
If a pedestrian collision is detected, the system triggers hood lifter mechanisms (located on either side of the hood) to activate and create more space between the hood and the hard engine components. It is hoped that, by doing this, the risk of serious injury or death will be substantially reduced.
The new system advantages also include sensor packaging flexibility across a wide range of vehicle applications, an electronic communication interface that works within established industry protocols (helping ensure high compatibility and reliability) and the use of TRW's proprietary X-RISA_8 pedestrian impact sensing algorithm.
"TRW has been a longstanding leader in supplying crash sensors and airbag ECUs and is a recognized leader for algorithms that control airbag functions. In the Pedestrian Protection System, the RAS can be mated to a stand-alone ECU, but the more cost effective solution is to have the software integrated into an existing TRW airbag control unit," according to TRW global electronics engineering vice president, Martin Thoone. He also believes that the system is very reliable, being based on proven technology for the hardware, software and control algorithms.
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