Abstract
Two new algorithms for frontal crash discrimination were proposed; one used the deceleration change multiplied by the velocity change as a metric, and the other used the deceleration squared multiplied by the velocity change. For all the frontal crash modes studied in this paper, the first algorithm resulted in the time-to-fires of frontal air bags less than the required time-to-fires, and the second algorithm resulted in the time-to-fires less than the required time-to-fires except only for underride crashes. Moreover, it was proposed that an accelerometer be installed at each side of the rails, rockers or pillars to assess the crash severity of each side especially during an asymmetric crash such as oblique and offset crashes. As an example, the deceleration pulses measured at the left and right B-pillar rocker locations were processed through the first algorithm, and appropriate but different time-to-fires of the driver air bag and the passenger air bag were obtained.