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.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Toyota to fit selected new cars with advanced automotive safety system
    November 28, 2014
    Beginning in 2015, some of Toyota Motor Corporation's new models will be compatible with advanced vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems that use a wireless frequency reserved for intelligent transport systems (ITS). This compatibility will be offered as an option for the Toyota Safety Sense P active safety package that will be made available in 2015 on selected new models sold in Japan. The systems will use the dedicated ITS frequency of 760 MHz for road-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-vehicle communicati
  • New opportunities in a data-rich future
    March 19, 2014
    Jason Barnes looks at where the detection and monitoring sector is heading. In the future, there will be no such thing as an un-instrumented road. Just a short time ago, that could have been a quote from a high-level policy document but with the first arrivals of vehicles with 802.11p connectivity – the door-opener to Vehicle-to-X (V2X) applications – it’s a statement which has increasing validity. The technology which uses our roads will also provide information on road conditions but V2X isn’t the only
  • Ohio DoT to use Inrix data to clear roads after major storms
    July 24, 2012
    Inrix will collaborate with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODoT) to use the company’s traffic information and cloud-based analytics to further the state’s goal of clearing roads statewide within three hours after major storms. “Restoring travel to normal conditions as quickly as possible not only improves public safety but keeps people and commerce moving across the state,” said Ted Trepanier, senior director of public sector, Inrix. “We’re providing Ohio with an objective, data-driven approach for
  • New aftermarket ADAS system announced
    May 17, 2012
    A new advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), developed by Iteris in partnership with Audiovox Electronics, has been unveiled at the 2011 International Consumer Electronic Show being held in Las Vegas this week. The new system, which is expected to be available later this year, provides consumers an opportunity to benefit from life-saving features that were previously only available on new premium cars or commercial Class 8 trucks. It incorporates Iteris’ proven AutoVue Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Fo