In 1992 Opel proposed a new airbag with a capacity of 67 liters, that is about double what Eurobag offered at the time. Precisely because of its large impact volume it was able to protect the driver even in the event of side collisions. In fact, thanks to crash tests, it was discovered that forces capable of being negatively applied to the upper part of the human body, head and thorax, and above all not exclusively in one direction, often develop.
Initially available only in correspondence with the driver’s seat and on mid-range models, the Opel “full-size” airbag was then progressively made available also for the front passenger and on the entire range of the German manufacturer. The new airbag was triggered by sensors placed in the central tunnel. After just 50 thousandths of a second from the moment of impact, the cushion was already fully inflated and, even if the car was traveling at high speed, it prevented the driver from crashing into the steering wheel. The Opel airbag operated only in the event of a frontal collision, in which the deceleration exceeded that generated by a collision at a speed of 25 km / h against a fixed obstacle. The results of the tests – no less than 35 crash tests for each model – had in fact indicated that the additional protection offered by the airbag was particularly necessary in impacts at high speeds.
The Opel airbag also included a diagnostic system that automatically checked the operation of each component. Once the engine started, a warning light on the dashboard indicated that the device was ready and would go out after a short time. If the warning light came on while driving, it meant there was a malfunction. Durability tests had confirmed the long life of all components: the airbag was also able to function effectively for over 10 years.
The impact sensors of the airbag, inserted in the central tunnel, reacted to a large number of impact angles. A microprocessor, connected to the sensor, was entrusted with the task of deciding for activation. The electronic device, which referred to the extent of deceleration, it required a time of 10-15 thousandths of a second to determine an event of a certain gravity. Five thousandths of a second after activation, the solid propellant was ignited by the cartridge, releasing nitrogen and causing the cover of the airbag module on the steering wheel to open at the intended breaking point.
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