Hyundai launches "hugging airbag" for self-driving cars to protect passengers' entire body

Hyundai Motor has introduced a new airbag technology that can protect the entire body of passengers in self-driving cars. To ensure that passengers do not fly out of their seats, the airbag firmly grasps the passengers with fasteners.

(Image source: Hyundai Motor)

Compared with traditional cars, which are equipped with rows of seats facing forward or backward, future cars without driver seats may have completely different seat components, and airbags will be placed in the right position to protect passengers facing different angles.

On July 12, local time, Hyundai Motor released a video on YouTube showing the "Hug Airbag". In the event of an accident, the airbag will pop out from the seat and hug the passenger tightly, protecting the passenger's head, upper body, pelvis and other body parts from the impact of the collision.

Hyundai Motor said in a statement that it will showcase future car technologies through a series of videos. "As the technology in the future automotive industry becomes more diverse, we are turning dream technologies into reality," a company executive said.

Hyundai also said it has applied for seven patents in major countries such as South Korea. The new airbags will be suitable for L4 and L5 autonomous vehicles. L4 autonomous vehicles can automatically navigate to the destination but still require human intervention in an emergency; L5 autonomous vehicles do not require a driver at all.