Skip to main content

TRW pedestrian protection system

TRW Automotive Holdings has developed an advanced pedestrian protection system that uses up to three remote acceleration sensors (RAS) located in the front bumper area.
January 26, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSS601 TRW Automotive Holdings has developed an advanced pedestrian protection system that uses up to three remote acceleration sensors (RAS) located in the front bumper area. These sensors continuously transmit acceleration signals to an electronic control unit (ECU) which analyses the sensor data. In the event of a collision, the system will determine if the vehicle has struck a human body (of various sizes) or another object. If a pedestrian collision is detected, the system triggers hood lifter mechanisms – located on either underside of the hood – to activate and create more space between the hood and the hard engine components to help reduce potential injury.

"Our goal is a reliable system based on proven technology for the hardware, software and control algorithms," said Martin Thoone, vice president, TRW global electronics engineering. "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."

TRW says the preferred integrated option also offers better interactions between the frontal impact sensing and pedestrian impact sensing algorithms; resulting in enhanced overall sensing performance. 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.

Related Content

  • September 15, 2016
    Deadlines approach for Europe’s automatic crash alert system
    The EU-co-funded I_ HeERO (Infrastructure_ Harmonised eCall European Pilot) project is working to ensure the readiness of national networks of call centres - known as public safety answering posts (PSAPs) - to deal with automated crash alerts arriving via the continent-wide 112 emergency phone number. Following on from its HeERO and HeERO2 pre-deployment predecessors, which enjoyed €16m (US$17.76m) in EU funding, the new initiative runs from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. It has €30.9 million (US$34.
  • December 8, 2014
    Traffic management to the fore at Vision 2014
    Colin Sowman reviews some of the traffic-related exhibits at the 2014 Vision Show in Stuttgart. Traffic was a major theme at this years’ Vision Show in Stuttgart and several manufacturers used the exhibition to highlight their traffic-related equipment and applications.
  • April 18, 2012
    New capability unveiled for automatic pedestrian detection system development and certification
    A technology collaboration between Innov ITS Advance and TRL has led to the creation of an advanced form of pedestrian detection target which it is claimed will help those specifying and developing automotive safety systems based on pedestrian recognition to test and certify their products in a more flexible, accurate and repeatable manner. The new TRL-Innov ITS Advance mobile pedestrian target is based around a robust, free standing dummy that provides a realistic human aspect and moves under remote contr
  • July 31, 2012
    Siemens unveils Sepac 3.51 traffic control software
    At this year’s IMSA (International Municipal Signal Association) Conference, which ends today in Orlando, Florida, Siemens has released the latest Sepac local traffic controller software which incorporates new features that help make intersections safer and improve the use of traffic signal priority for public mass transportation, without interrupting the general traffic flow.