Abstract
In this paper we give a short introduction to elements with shape memory effect and discuss their potential in automotive safety devices. In the second part of the paper we present a prototype of a new actuator system with shape memory alloy that is designed for the steering column. The presented mechanism is suitable for the comfort area as well as for the safety area of the vehicle. When the car is in the accident phase the fixation of the steering column can be given free from the adjustment and it can move. In this way enough space between the steering wheel and the body of the driver will be created for the airbag. The used actuator wires consist of NiTi alloy. The contraction process of the wires is controlled with a microcontroller.
The reaction of each system (passive, pre-crash and active) should correspond to the exterior action of the crash. That means each system takes information from different sensors: speed, distance, brake intensity, speed of wheel and activates the actuator in the most appropriate way. In order to achieve this above mentioned microcontroller can be used. The present results show that the shape memory alloys can do a good job in automotive safety systems.
Keywords: automotive safety systems, shape memory alloy, actuators, microcontroller, steering column