One of the advantages of the self-driving car technology is that you can afford to sit back and relax – or even recline the seat completely and have a nap. However, according to Paul Dick, Mercedes-Benz boss for light passenger vehicle security, the automakers must realize the risks and get ready – with a special safety airbag design for those lying down, for example.
In the current Mercedes lineup, only the rear seats are capable of assuming a more or less horizontal position – and only in the most expensive vehicles at that. Paul Dick says it will not always be the case: a moment will come when self-driving systems evolve and reclining front seats will become standard, allowing drivers to rest where their active involvement is not needed.
The problem is that standard airbags lose their efficiency in such scenarios. This is why Mercedes is working on finding new, better ways of ensuring the safety of everyone inside the car. According to Paul Dick, airbags can be built into b-pillars, seat parts and even safety belts. The optimal solution remains to be found.
As more Mercedes-Benz vehicles go autonomous, they may wind up with many modern features demanding a revision of the old safety standards. The airbags are just a small part of it. For example, seat belt pretensioners may not perform their function correctly with the passenger lying down. Formulating new principles of automotive safety is a challenge of the future that carmakers will be wise to begin thinking about right now, the designer concludes.