Honda likens the new airbag to a baseball catcher’s mitt. Unlike the single inflatable chamber used in other front passenger airbag systems, the three-chamber setup features an uninflated “sail panel” that first catches and decelerates the passenger’s head, all while directing it between two inflated chambers that protect the head from injury.
The airbag is made up of four key components, namely the sail panel and the three inflated compartments comprising two outward-projecting side chambers and a central chamber. These work together to spread across the passenger side of the dashboard, providing a structured and controlled impact with the airbag.
The automaker introduced this technology back in 2021, with the TLX being the first car to receive the system. This isn’t the first time Honda has been awarded for excellent design at an ESV conference. In 2019, engineer Sue Bai was recognized for her work in the connected vehicle technology field.