Cost analysis of the Mercedes-Benz occupant detection system for air bag shut-off

Details

• Creators:
  Ludtke, N. ; Heitsch, R.
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Air bags
  • Child restraint systems
  • Traffic safety
  • Passengers
  • Passenger cars
  • Occupant protection devices
  • Front seat occupants
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • child safety
  • cost analysis
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT HS 808 592 ; DTNH 22-96-C-02063
• Resource Type:
  Research Paper
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Abstract:
  The objective of this project is to develop the variable manufacturing costs and lead time estimates of an "occupant detection system for air bag shut off". The Mercedes-Benz system was used as a base for developing this data. The system consists of a switch pad which fits beneath the upholstery on the front passenger seat and a wiring harness that connects the switch pad to the vehicle air bag wiring harness. With this system, the passenger air bag is normally in a non-detonation state and a person of sufficient weight sitting on the switch pad closes the circuit through depressing pressure points in the switch pad. A relatively light weight person (a child) would not depress the pressure points sufficiently to close the circuit. Assessment of the cost to implement this concept into the total U.S. market was accomplished by first developing the variable manufacturing costs of the Mercedes-Benz system, then conducting an evaluation of twenty U.S. production vehicles relative to their current air bag systems and front seat configurations. The air bag systems were evaluated relative to the ease of interdicting a shut off switch into the circuitry. The front seat configurations were evaluated relative to the sitting area that a front passenger would sit and; consequently, the area that a "switch pad" would have to cover.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/13784/dot_13784_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 10.46 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:26233b039e0d88cc5edaed244fba8ad9ebec3695e575a2d28c71206e5cd903c5