Didn't see the accident coming? Siemens says it has an airbag sensor that is able to detect an accident by sound and set out airbags twice as fast as current sensors.

The device, called the Crash Impact Sound Sensor (CISS), interprets the sound waves created when a vehicle's frame deforms on impact, allowing it to determine the severity of the crash and whether the airbags should be deployed. As it is now, sensors in bumpers recognize the deformation caused by an accident and pressure sensors measure the intensity of a side impact. Acceleration sensors also use the braking force and the vehicle vibration to determine the strength of the crash.

Siemens asserts that traditional sensors need 30 milliseconds from impact to airbag activation, with CISS needing just half of that time — depending on the type of crash.

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