This allows the RCM to calculate crash severity early in the collision so that it can determine the appropriate pressure to inflate the airbags, and also whether to activate the safety belt pretensioners. The RCM receives signals from the electronic crash-severity sensor, and judges how fast the vehicle is decelerating. In less severe frontal crashes, airbags inflate with less force or not at all helping to reduce the risk of injury due to the inflation of the airbag. The system helps to make sure the appropriate level of airbag pressure is used. Engineering Insight A common misconception about dual-stage front airbags is that they inflate at different speeds.
Lower pressure means less force of deployment and less chance of injury for front-seat passengers.
Because of the way the airbags are folded inside the air bag module, they deploy radially which helps direct the initial deployment energy away from the driver and right front passenger. The position of the seat relative to the steering wheel will help determine the airbag pressure that will be deployed. Once the safety belts have restrained front-seat passengers, the Front Outboard Safety Belt Energy Management Retractors gradually allow the safety belt to slacken if necessary, reducing the force of the belts on the occupants' chest and allowing them to move forward very slightly and into the airbag. Once the sensors have determined that a collision is taking place, the Front Outboard Safety Belt Pretensioners cause the front safety belts to tighten, taking up slack in the belts, holding them firmly against the occupant, before the airbag inflates. This helps reduce the force of the belt on the occupants and holds them in the proper position for supplemental airbag protection.