Seat bottom supported airbags extending cross-vehicle between vehicle seats

An assembly for a vehicle includes an assembly for a vehicle including a first seat, a second seat, and a third seat spaced from the second seat along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The second seat and the third seat are spaced cross-vehicle from the first seat. Each of the second seat and the third seat define an occupant seating area. The occupant seating area of the second seat faces the occupant seating area of the third seat. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the first seat. The airbag extends from the first seat and is inflatable cross-vehicle between the occupant seating area of the second seat and the occupant seating area of the third seat.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle may include amenities that allow occupants to face one another during operation of the vehicle. As one example, an autonomous vehicle may be autonomously operated, allowing occupants of the vehicle to ride in the vehicle without monitoring the operation of the vehicle. Specifically, the autonomous vehicle may include seats free to rotate between rides of the vehicle between forward-facing and rearward-facing positions. The vehicle be equipped with airbags located at various fixed positions in the passenger compartment to inflate in the event of impacts to the vehicle. Vehicles may include airbags supported on a dash, side air curtains mounted to the roof rails, side airbags mounted to seats, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An assembly includes an assembly for a vehicle including a first seat, a second seat, and a third seat spaced from the second seat along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The second seat and the third seat are spaced cross-vehicle from the first seat. Each of the second seat and the third seat define an occupant seating area. The occupant seating area of the second seat faces the occupant seating area of the third seat. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the first seat. The airbag extends from the first seat and is inflatable cross-vehicle between the occupant seating area of the second seat and the occupant seating area of the third seat.

The first seat may include a seat bottom, the airbag being supported by the seat bottom of the first seat.

The seat bottom may include a vehicle-inboard side and a vehicle-outboard side spaced cross-vehicle from the vehicle-inboard side, the airbag being supported by the vehicle-inboard side of the seat bottom of the first seat.

The assembly may include a fourth seat spaced along the vehicle-longitudinal axis from the first seat and spaced cross-vehicle from the second seat and third seat, the fourth seat and the first seat each defining an occupant seating area. The occupant seating area of the fourth seat may face the occupant seating area of the first seat. The assembly may include a second airbag supported by the third seat, the second airbag may extend from the third seat and being inflatable cross-vehicle between the occupant seating area of the fourth seat and the occupant seating area of the first seat.

The airbag and the second airbag may be each inflatable to an inflated position, the second airbag may abut the airbag in the inflated position.

The second airbag may extend in a direction opposite from the airbag.

The airbag may be supported by the first seat below the occupant seating area.

The assembly may include a second airbag supported by the first seat, the second airbag being spaced cross-vehicle from the airbag and inflatable to an inflated position. The assembly may include a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to selectively inflate the airbag or the second airbag.

The first seat may be rotatable about a rotational axis from a forward-facing position to a rearward-facing position and the instructions include to inflate the airbag to an inflated position when the first seat is in one of the forward-facing position or the rearward-facing position and to inflate the second airbag to the inflated position when the first seat is the other of the forward-facing position or rearward-facing position.

The assembly may include a third airbag supported by the third seat.

The assembly may include a fourth seat spaced along the vehicle-longitudinal axis from the first seat and spaced cross-vehicle from the second seat and third seat. The first seat and the fourth seat each defining an occupant seating area, the occupant seating area of the fourth seat facing the occupant seating area of the first seat. The third airbag may extend from the third seat and being inflatable cross-vehicle between the occupant seating area of the fourth seat and the occupant seating area of the first seat.

The assembly may include a deflector supported by the first seat adjacent the airbag.

The airbag may be inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag abutting at least one of the second seat and the third seat in the inflated position.

The assembly may include a door adjacent the second seat and the third seat, the airbag being inflatable to an inflated position away from the first seat and toward the door.

The airbag may abut the door in the inflated position.

The airbag may inflate diagonally from the first seat.

The first seat may include a seat bottom and a seatback supported by the seat bottom, the airbag being supported by the seat bottom and being inflatable upwardly from the seat bottom and above the seatback.

With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, an assembly10for a vehicle12includes a first seat14, a second seat16, and a third seat18spaced from the second seat16along a vehicle-longitudinal axis L. The second seat16and the third seat18are spaced cross-vehicle from the first seat14. Each of the second seat16and the third seat18define an occupant seating area20. The occupant seating area20of the second seat16faces the occupant seating area20of the third seat18. The assembly10includes an airbag22supported by the first seat14. The airbag22extends from the first seat14and is inflatable cross-vehicle between the occupant seating area20of the second seat16and the occupant seating area20of the third seat18.

In the event of an impact to the vehicle12, e.g., a frontal, rear, offset impact, etc., the airbag22supported by the first seat14inflates to an inflated position. The airbag22inflates cross-vehicle between the occupant seating area20of the second seat16and the occupant seating area20of the third seat18. The airbag22may control the kinematics of the occupants seated in the second seat16and the third seat18. The airbag22may limit interaction between the occupants seated in the second seat16and the third seat18. The airbag22may limit interaction between the occupants of the second seat16and the third seat18and occupants seated in other seats14,16,18,24of the vehicle12, e.g., an occupant of the first seat14. The airbag22may be inflated in the vehicle12in combination with other airbags in the vehicle12, e.g., a curtain airbag, side airbag, etc.

With reference toFIG. 1, the vehicle12may be any suitable type of automobile, e.g., a passenger or commercial automobile such as a sedan, a coupe, a truck, a sport utility, a crossover, a van, a minivan, a taxi, a bus, etc. The vehicle12, for example, may be autonomous.

In other words, the vehicle12may be autonomously operated such that the vehicle12may be driven without constant attention from a driver, i.e., the vehicle12may be self-driving without human input.

The vehicle12includes a body (not numbered) including rockers, roof rails, pillars, body panels, etc. The vehicle12includes a passenger compartment (not numbered) to house occupants, if any, of the vehicle12. The passenger compartment may extend across the vehicle12, i.e., from one side to the other side of the vehicle12. The passenger compartment includes a front end and a rear end with the front end being in front of the rear end during forward movement of the vehicle12.

With continued reference toFIG. 1, the vehicle12may include one or more seats14,16,18,24. Specifically, the vehicle12may include any suitable number of seats14,16,18,24. In the example shown in the Figures, the vehicle12includes the first seat14, the second seat16, the third seat18, and a fourth seat24. As shown in the Figures, the seats14,16,18,24are positioned in a rectangular configuration. The first seat14and the fourth seat24are spaced from each other along a vehicle-longitudinal axis L. The second seat16and the third seat18are spaced from each other along the vehicle-longitudinal axis L. The first seat14and fourth seat24are spaced cross-vehicle from the second seat16and the third seat18. In the example shown in the figures, the first seat14is positioned at a front left position of the passenger compartment merely as an example.

As shown in the Figures, the seats14,16,18,24are supported by a vehicle floor (not numbered). The seats14,16,18,24may be arranged in any suitable arrangement in the passenger compartment. As in the example shown in the Figures, one or more of the seats14,16,18,24may be at the front end of the passenger compartment, e.g., a driver seat and/or a passenger seat. In other examples, one or more of the seats14,16,18,24may be behind the front end of the passenger compartment, e.g., at the rear end of the passenger compartment. The first seat14may be positioned at any suitable location in the passenger compartment and the adjectives “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” with respect to the seats are merely identifiers and do not indicate order or importance. The seats14,16,18,24may be movable relative to the vehicle12floor to various positions, e.g., movable fore-and-aft and/or cross-vehicle. The seat may be of any suitable type, e.g., a bucket seat.

The seats14,16,18,24each include a seatback26, a seat bottom28, and a head restraint (not numbered). The head restraint may be supported by and extending upwardly from the seatback26. The head restraint may be stationary or movable relative to the seatback26. The seatback26may be supported by the seat bottom28and may be stationary or movable relative to the seat bottom28. The seatback26, the seat bottom28, and the head restraint may be adjustable in multiple degrees of freedom. Specifically, the seatback26, the seat bottom28, and the head restraint may themselves be adjustable. In other words, adjustable components within the seatback26, the seat bottom28, and the head restraint may be adjustable relative to each other.

The seatback26includes the seat frame (not numbered) and a covering (not numbered) supported on the seat frame. The seat frame may include tubes, beams, etc. The seat frame may be of any suitable plastic material, e.g., carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), glass fiber-reinforced semi-finished thermoplastic composite (organosheet), etc. As another example, some or all components of the seat frame may be formed of a suitable metal, e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.

The covering may include upholstery, padding, and/or plastic portions. The upholstery may be cloth, leather, faux leather, or any other suitable material. The upholstery may be stitched in panels around the seat frame. The padding may be between the covering and the seat frame and may be foam or any other suitable material.

Each seat may be rotatable about a rotational axis (not numbered) that extends through the vehicle roof and the vehicle floor. For example, the seats14,16,18,24may rotate between a forward-facing position and a rearward-facing position. In the forward-facing position, an occupant of the seat faces the front end of the passenger compartment. In the rearward-facing position, an occupant of the seat faces the rear end of the passenger compartment. The seats14,16,18,24may rotate completely, i.e., 360°, about the axis. The seats14,16,18,24may rotate between fixed positions, e.g., the forward-facing position and the rearward-facing position, or may be rotatable to an infinite number of positions.

The seat bottom28includes a vehicle-inboard side30and a vehicle-outboard side32spaced cross-vehicle from the vehicle-inboard side30. When the seats14,16,18,24are in the forward-facing position or in the rearward-facing position, the vehicle-outboard side32is facing the vehicle-outboard side32and the vehicle-inboard side30is facing vehicle-inboard. In other words, the vehicle-inboard side30and the vehicle-outboard side32may change depending on the orientation of the seat.

The seatback26and the seat bottom28define the occupant seating areas20of the seats14,16,18,24. Each of the seats14,16,18,24, i.e., the first seat14, second seat16, third seat18, and the fourth seat24, include an occupant seating area20. The occupant seating area20is the area occupied by an occupant when properly seated on the seat bottom28and the seat back. The occupant seating area20is in a seat-forward direction of the seatback26and above the seat bottom28. In the example shown in the Figures, the occupant seating area20faces the front end of the passenger compartment when the seat is in the forward-facing position and the occupant seating area20faces the rear end of the passenger compartment when the seat is in the rearward-facing position.

As shown in the example ofFIGS. 1-4, when the first seat14is in the rearward-facing position and the fourth seat24is in the forward-facing position, the occupant seating areas20of the first seat14and the fourth seat24face each other. In other words, the occupant seating areas20of the first seat14and the fourth seat24are between the seatbacks26of the first seat14and the fourth seat24. Also in the example ofFIGS. 1-4, the second seat16is in the rearward-facing position and the third seat18is in the forward-facing position and the occupant seating areas20of the first seat14and the fourth seat24face each other. As shown in the example ofFIG. 5, both the first seat14and the fourth seat24are in the forward-facing position and the occupant seating areas20are facing vehicle-forward.

The vehicle12includes a plurality of doors34openable for vehicle occupants to enter and exit the passenger compartment. Each of the doors34are adjacent a seat14,16,18,24in the vehicle12. The doors34may be adjacent seats14,16,18,24in the passenger compartment. The doors34are vehicle-outboard the seats14,16,18,24.

The roof rails contact a top edge of the doors34when the doors34are closed. Each door34includes at least one door panel (not numbered) and the door-trim panel (not numbered) supported on the door panel. Specifically, the door34may include two panels, namely a door inner (not shown) and a door outer (not shown). In such an example, the door-trim panel and the door outer are fixed to the door inner. The door-trim panel is positioned opposite the door outer relative to the door frame. The door-trim panel is inboard relative to the door inner, and the door outer is outboard relative to the door inner. The doors34includes a window opening (not numbered) that may be completely closed by a window (not numbered) of the window is in a fully raised position. The window opening is defined by the door-trim panel and door outer on a bottom edge and either by the door inner circumscribing the window opening or by the body, e.g., the A pillar, the B pillar, and the roof rail. The door outer faces outboard relative to the vehicle12.

The door outer may define a portion of the exterior of the vehicle12. For example, the door outer may present a class-A surface, i.e., a surface specifically manufactured to have a high-quality, finished aesthetic appearance free of blemishes. The door outer may be metal (such as steel, aluminum, etc.) or polymeric (such as fiber reinforced plastic composite, etc.).

The door inner may be metal (such as steel, aluminum, etc.) or polymeric (such as fiber reinforced plastic composite, etc.). The door inner provides structural rigidity for the door outer. The door inner may provide a mounting location for components of the door34.

The door-trim panel may include a covering supported by the top roll. The covering may include upholstery, padding, etc. The upholstery may be cloth, leather, faux leather, or any other suitable material. The upholstery may be stitched in panels around the top roll. The padding may be between the covering and the top roll and may be foam or any other suitable material. The door-trim panel may be a material suitable for an interior of the vehicle12, such as vinyl, plastic, leather, wood, etc.

The door-trim panel may be a material suitable for an interior of the vehicle12, such as vinyl, plastic, leather, wood, etc.

With reference toFIGS. 2-5, one or more of the seats14,16,18,24may include an airbag assembly36. Specifically, in the example shown in the Figures, the first seat14and the third seat18each include one or more airbag assemblies36. Each of the airbag assemblies36includes the airbag22, an inflator38, and may include a housing (not shown). The vehicle12may include any suitable number of airbag assemblies36. In examples including more than one airbag assembly36, the airbag assemblies36may be identical or substantially identical to each other.

The inflator38of the airbag assembly36is fluidly connected to the airbags22. The inflator38expands the airbags22with inflation medium, such as a gas, to move the airbag22from an uninflated position to the inflated position. The inflator38may be, for example, a pyrotechnic inflator that ignites a chemical reaction to generate the inflation medium, a stored gas inflator that releases (e.g., by a pyrotechnic valve) stored gas as the inflation medium, or a hybrid. The vehicle12may include any suitable number of inflators38to inflate the airbags22of the airbag assemblies36. In other words, the vehicle12may include a number of inflators38equal to the number of airbag assemblies36supported by the first seat14and the third seat18.

In the example shown inFIGS. 2-5, the airbag assemblies36may be supported by the seat bottom28of the first seat14and the seat bottom28of the third seat18. Specifically, the airbag assemblies36are supported by the seat bottom28below the occupant seating areas20of the first seat14and the third seat18. The airbag assemblies36may be supported by any combination of the seats14,16,18,24and the vehicle12may include any suitable number of airbag assemblies36.

The airbag assemblies36, e.g., the airbags22, may be supported by the seat bottom28of the first seat14and the third seat18. Specifically, as shown inFIGS. 1-5, the airbags22are supported by the vehicle-inboard sides30of the first seat14and the third seat18. In the example shown inFIGS. 1-4, the first seat14is in the rearward-facing position and the third seat18is in the forward-facing position and the airbags22are supported on the vehicle-inboard sides30of the seat bottoms28, i.e., the first seat14and the third seat18are facing each other with the airbags22supported by the vehicle-inboard sides30of the seat bottoms28.

With reference toFIGS. 3-5, when the airbags22are in the inflated position, the airbags22extend cross-vehicle from the seat bottom28of the first seat14and the third seat18. The airbags22extends from the first seat14and the third seat18between the occupant seating areas20of the two seats14,16,18,24that spaced cross-vehicle. For example, the airbag22supported by the first seat14extends cross-vehicle from the first seat14and toward the door34of the vehicle12opposite the first seat14toward the door34, e.g., abutting the door34. In such an example, the airbag extends between the occupant seating areas20of the second seat16and the third seat18. The airbag22supported by the third seat18extends cross-vehicle from the third seat18and toward the door34of the vehicle12opposite third seat18toward the door34, e.g., abutting the door34, specifically, the door-trim panel of the door34. In such an example, the airbag22extends between the occupant seating areas20of the first seat14and the fourth seat24. The airbags22extend between the occupant seating areas20to extend between occupants seated in the seats14,16,18,24of the vehicle12. Extending between the occupants seated in the occupant seating areas20limits interaction between the occupants of the vehicle12in the event of an impact to the vehicle12.

The airbags22extend diagonally relative to the first seat14and the third seat18, i.e., vehicle-fore-and-aft and cross-vehicle. The airbag22supported by the first seat14extends in a direction opposite the direction of the airbag22supported by the third seat18when the airbags22are in the inflated position. In the inflated positions, the airbags22abut each other between the seats14,16,18,24, e.g., in the middle of the passenger compartment. The airbags22may use each other as reaction surfaces in the inflated position, i.e., the airbags22provide support to each other if an occupant contacts the airbags22in the inflated position.

The airbags22may abut at least one of the seats14,16,18,24spaced cross-vehicle from the first seat14or the third seat18. The airbag22supported by the first seat14may abut at least one of the second seat16or the third seat18in the inflated position and the airbag22supported by the third seat18may abut at least one of the first seat14or the third seat18in the inflated position.

The airbags22extend from the first seat14and the third seat18upwardly from the seat bottoms28. The airbags22extend above the seatbacks26of the seats14,16,18,24in the vehicle12. The height of the airbags22allows the airbags22to control the kinematics of the occupants in the seats14,16,18,24and limit interaction between the occupants seated in the seats14,16,18,24.

In some examples, the first seat14and/or the third seat18may include multiple airbag assemblies36spaced cross-vehicle from each other. In other words, at least one of the first seat14or the third seat18includes an airbag assembly36supported by the vehicle-inboard side30of the seat bottom28and a second airbag assembly50, i.e., including another airbag22, supported by the vehicle-outboard side32of the seat bottom28. The first seat14and/or the third seat18may include a second airbag assembly50if the first seat14and/or third seat18is rotatable. In the example shown in the Figures, specificallyFIG. 5, the first seat14includes a second airbag assembly50, i.e., two airbag assemblies36,50, and the third seat18includes a single airbag assembly36, i.e., one airbag assembly36. The first seat14or the third seat18including a second airbag assembly50allows the seats14,18to rotate from the forward-facing position and the rearward-facing position and provide support to the other airbag assembly36in both positions.

With reference toFIG. 5, the first seat14may rotate from the rearward-facing position to the forward-facing position. When the first seat14is in the forward-facing position the second airbag22of the second airbag assembly50may be on the vehicle-inboard side30of the seat bottom28of the first seat14. In the event of an impact to the vehicle12, the airbag22of the second airbag assembly50inflates to the inflated position instead of the airbag22of the other airbag assembly36supported on the first seat14. The airbag22inflates away from the first seat14and toward the door34on the opposite side of the vehicle12. The airbag22will be between the occupant seating areas20of the second seat16and the third seat18. The adjectives “first” and “second” with respect to the airbags22are merely identifiers and do not indicate order or importance

Each of the airbag assemblies36,50may include a deflector40supported by the first seat14or the third seat18adjacent the airbags22. The deflector40guides the airbag toward the door34on the opposite side of the vehicle12. The deflector40contacts the airbag22to move the airbag between the second seat16and the third seat18or between the first seat14and the fourth seat24.

The airbag22may be fabric, e.g., a woven polymer. For example, the fabric may be woven nylon yarn, for example, nylon 6, 6. Other examples of woven polymer include polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyester, etc. The woven polymer may include a coating, such as silicone, neoprene, urethane, etc. For example, the coating may be polyorgano siloxane.

The vehicle12includes a computer42includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes one or more forms of computer42readable media, and stores instructions executable by the computer42for performing various operations, including as disclosed herein. For example, the computer42can be a generic computer42with a processor and memory as described above and/or may include an electronic control unit ECU or controller for a specific function or set of functions, and/or a dedicated electronic circuit including an ASIC that is manufactured for a particular operation, e.g., an ASIC for processing sensor data and/or communicating the sensor data. In another example, computer42may include an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) which is an integrated circuit manufactured to be configurable by a user. Typically, a hardware description language such as VHDL (Very High-Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language) is used in electronic design automation to describe digital and mixed-signal systems such as FPGA and ASIC. For example, an ASIC is manufactured based on VHDL programming provided pre-manufacturing, whereas logical components inside an FPGA may be configured based on VHDL programming, e.g. stored in a memory electrically connected to the FPGA circuit. In some examples, a combination of processor(s), ASIC(s), and/or FPGA circuits may be included in a computer42. The memory can be of any type, e.g., hard disk drives, solid state drives, servers, or any volatile or non-volatile media. The memory can store the collected data sent from the sensors. The memory can be a separate device from the computer42, and the computer42can retrieve information stored by the memory via a network in the vehicle12, e.g., over a CAN bus, a wireless network, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the memory can be part of the computer42, e.g., as a memory of the computer42. The computer42may include programming to operate one or more of vehicle brakes, propulsion e.g., control of acceleration in the vehicle12by controlling one or more of an internal combustion engine, electric motor, hybrid engine, etc., steering, climate control, interior and/or exterior lights, etc., as well as to determine whether and when the computer42, as opposed to a human operator, is to control such operations. Additionally, the computer42may be programmed to determine whether and when a human operator is to control such operations. The computer42may include or be communicatively coupled to, e.g., via a vehicle12network such as a communications bus as described further below, more than one processor, e.g., included in components such as sensors, electronic control units (ECUs) or the like included in the vehicle12for monitoring and/or controlling various vehicle components, e.g., a powertrain controller, a brake controller, a steering controller, etc. With reference toFIG. 6, the computer42is generally arranged for communications on a vehicle communication network44that can include a bus in the vehicle12such as a controller area network CAN or the like, and/or other wired and/or wireless mechanisms. Alternatively or additionally, in cases where the computer42actually comprises a plurality of devices, the vehicle communication network44may be used for communications between devices represented as the computer42in this disclosure. Further, as mentioned below, various controllers and/or sensors may provide data to the computer42via the vehicle communication network44.

The vehicle12may include seat orientation sensors46to determine the orientation of the seats14,16,18,24, i.e., the seat orientation sensors46may indicate whether the seats14,16,18,24are in the forward-facing position or the rearward-facing position. The seat orientation sensors46may be in communication with the computer42. The seat orientation sensors46may send a signal to the computer42to indicate whether the seat is in the forward-facing position or the rearward-facing position. The vehicle12may include any suitable number of seat orientation sensors46to determine the orientation of multiple seats14,16,18,24in the vehicle12. In other words, the vehicle12may include a number of seat orientation sensors46equal to the number of seats14,16,18,24that are rotatable in the vehicle12.

The vehicle12may include at least one impact sensor48for sensing impact of the vehicle12, and the computer42may be in communication with the impact sensors48. The impact sensor48is configured to detect an impact to the vehicle12. The impact sensor48may be of any suitable type, for example, post-contact sensors such as accelerometers, pressure sensors, and contact switches; and pre-impact sensors such as radar, LIDAR, and vision-sensing systems. The vision-sensing systems may include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors, etc. The impact sensor48may be located at numerous points in or on the vehicle12.

With reference toFIG. 7, the computer42stores instructions to control components of the vehicle12according to the method700shown inFIG. 7. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 7, the method700selectively inflates the airbags22supported by the first seat14and the third seat18. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 7, the method700selectively inflates the airbags22supported by the first seat14and the third seat18. Specifically, the method700selectively inflates the airbag22of the airbag assembly36or the airbag22of the second airbag assembly50based on whether the first seat14is forward-facing or rearward facing. Use of “in response to,” “based on,” and “upon determining” herein indicates a causal relationship, not merely a temporal relationship.

With reference to decision block705, the method700includes identifying an impact to the vehicle12. The computer42may receive a communication from the impact sensors48of the vehicle12identifying the impact to the vehicle12. If no impact is identified, the method700begins from its start.

With reference to decision block710, the method700includes identifying whether the first seat14is in the forward-facing position. Detection of the first seat14in the forward-facing position may be based on detection by the orientation sensor48, as described above. As an example, the computer42may receive a communication from the seat orientation sensors48to identify the first seat14is in the forward-facing position. In absence of detection of the first seat14in the forward-facing position (including detection that the first seat14is in the rearward-facing position), the method700moves to block720.

With reference to block715, based on identification of vehicle impact and the first seat14being in the forward-facing position, the method700includes inflating the airbag22to the inflated position of the second airbag assembly50. The computer42may instruct the inflator38to inflate the airbag22of the second airbag assembly50supported by the first seat14. When the first seat14is in the forward-facing position, the airbag22of the airbag assembly36is not inflated.

With reference to decision block720, the method700includes identifying whether the first seat14is in the rearward-facing position. Detection of the first seat14in the rearward-facing position may be based on detection by the orientation sensor48, as described above. As an example, the computer42may receive a communication from the seat orientation sensors48to identify the first seat14is in the rearward-facing position. Merely for the purpose of illustration, decision block720is shown after decision block710inFIG. 7; decision blocks710may be performed simultaneously, decision block710may be performed before decision block720(as shown inFIG. 7) or after decision block720.

With reference to block725, based on identification of vehicle impact and the first seat being in the rearward-facing position, the method700includes inflating the airbag22of the airbag assembly36. The computer42may send a communication to the inflator38to inflate the airbag22of the airbag assembly supported by the first seat14. When the first seat14is in the rearward-facing position, the airbag22of the second airbag assembly50is not inflated.

With reference to block730, the method700includes inflating the airbag22of the third seat18to the inflated position in response to detection of vehicle impact in block705. The computer42may send a communication to the inflator38to inflate the airbag22supported by the third seat18.