Ford patents an airbag for driverless cars it probably won't have

Ford has applied for a patent registration of a safety airbag aimed at protecting passengers inside a self-driving vehicle. With the self-driving direction of its business now defunct, the invention will likely remain in the archives.

Completely driver-free cars lack a dashboard in the traditional sense and often have variable seating layouts. This makes it quite challenging to design airbags that would work in any scenario.

Ford’s solution to this problem is an unusually shaped bag mounted at the ceiling. The schematics suggest that it is cylindrical in shape and designed to envelope the passenger together with the seat back, preventing any contact with sharp objects.

Late last month, Ford decided to shut down its Argo subdivision that it jointly created with Volkswagen Group to research autonomous transports. The company blamed unacceptably high costs for the closure. With Argo defunct, Ford is now shaping up to become an outsider in the self-driving car race.