Volvo Car Group's pioneering work on pedestrian protection has been rewarded with the 2013 Global NCAP Innovation award. The prize was received by Lotta Jakobsson, senior technical specialist safety, Volvo Cars Safety Centre, at the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) conference in Seoul, South Korea.

At the ESV Conference, Lotta Jakobsson held a presentation about Volvo Cars' outstanding achievements within pedestrian protection. She presented a paper on the Pedestrian Airbag Technology in the new Volvo V40.

"The purpose of the world's first airbag for pedestrians is to help protect these vulnerable road users in certain situations when they impact the bonnet and the area around the windscreen, where there may be a risk of serious head injuries," says Lotta Jakobsson.

Addressing a global challenge

In China, 25 percent of traffic fatalities are pedestrians. In Europe, the figure is 14 percent and in the USA 12 percent. In India, the numbers will easily be far higher. Far larger numbers of pedestrians are injured. The most serious head injuries involving pedestrians and cars are caused by the hard structure under the bonnet panel, the windscreen's lower edge and the A-pillars.

In 2010, Volvo Cars counteracted the statistics by launching Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake. The system can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to 35kph if the driver does not respond in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car's speed as much as possible before the collision.

In order to mitigate the consequences if a collision with a pedestrian is unavoidable, the Volvo V40 comes equipped with the world's first Pedestrian Airbag Technology.

Raises the bonnet by 10 centimetres

Seven sensors embedded in the front of the car transmit signals to a control unit. When the car comes into contact with an object, the control unit evaluates the signals and if it registers a human-like leg form, the pedestrian airbag is deployed.

The bonnet hinges are equipped with pyrotechnical release mechanisms which, when the system is activated, pull out a pin and release the rear of the bonnet. At the same time, the airbag is inflated. During the inflation sequence, the airbag raises the bonnet. It is lifted 10 centimetres and stays in the raised position.

The added gap between the bonnet and the hard components in the engine compartment gives space for the bonnet to deform, absorbing energy and dampening the impact of the pedestrian's head and chest.

"The airbag has a dual function. It raises the bonnet to create distance. Then it helps to cushion the impact by covering the hard parts around the windscreen," explains Lotta Jakobsson.

Best Euro NCAP score ever

In 2012, the all-new Volvo V40 achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating and also won the Euro NCAP Best in Class in the Small Family class - with the best overall result ever recorded by the organisation. The V40 scored an all-time high in the pedestrian evaluation by attaining 88 percent of the total score.

"Several studies have documented that our collision-avoiding systems lead to significant accident reductions in real-life traffic. By continuously introducing new preventive and protective systems, we keep moving towards our aim that by 2020 no one should be injured or killed in a new Volvo," concludes Lotta Jakobsson.