Paul Tan on the Automotive Industry
Toyota’s newly developed Active Headrest system promises to reduce the possibility of neck injury during low-speed, rear impacts. A sensor built into the seat’s backrest recognizes when the occupant’s lower back presses against the backrest, thus triggering the upper unit to activate the head restraint. The head restraint activates diagonally 30mm upwards and 25mm forwards to quickly catch the back of the head. This can reduce severity of whiplash injury by 10-20%.
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After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
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Gosh, it's taken them so long to catch up! Saab had this ages ago. Even Volvo had this.
Life becomes more complicated nowadays!
Sigh..!!
Cool!!
Life is short so that's why it become more valuable. They invent the technology just to make sure a small minor accident will not take your life away ^_^
but normally all this cool gadgets will only available in luxury car : (
Not bad. 3 sensors? Human varies in shapes and sizes. If the design concerns over study of anthropometry, they can accommodate a desired portion of the potential drivers only. see the % of reduction severity of whiplash injury.its only 10-20%. And this means it only works for some ppl only:)
another option is to use only 1 sensor just to sense exactly where the driver's head and adjust that headrest .
hopefully they will introduce it into the latest Corolla which is target to be launched next year.
althought it might sound small as 10~20% will benefit from it but personally i think all this will add up to give a better protection to us.
Bravo Toyota.
juz a copy cat…
Good way, as Toyota improve the safety. However, when comes to SAFETY driver always play the major role.
maybe its cheap to mass produce it now, thats why toyota just making it
mystvearn said,
July 4, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
maybe its cheap to mass produce it now, thats why toyota just making it
__________________
agreed
Great news! Well, its good to know that Toyota producer of quality toyota strut mounts – http://www.autotoyparts.com/toyota-strut-mounts/ – is also considering a more safer vehicle through the help of this new technology – Active Headrest system. But, car owners should bare in mind this would only help lessen the injury, what is important is to drive carefully and observe proper traffic rules.
Well, whiplash is common and debilitating.
In countries that the law makes it possible to sue for "pain and suffering", lost wages and such, these "minor' injuries can cost insurance companies millions. I'm sure any car with "special" and extra safety equipment may allow the buyer to save a few bux on insurance premiums.
However, its high time our regular road users wise up and realise that safety of your lives are not the sole responsibility of the car manufacturer. You can drive the most safe car but dont belt down you and your passengers will mean nothing when crap happens.
isn't whiplash are introduced by Volvo years ago… i think i seen this whiplash words on Volvo cars many years ago…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Cars
scroll down to Safety milestones or click 2.1
sad to say, i had a fren which involved in an accident suffered whiplash injuries(neck and spine area)… he had epilepsy since then… had seizure now and then…. under medication but still had seizure sometimes…
The headrest itself is invented to combat whiplash. Not sure if the headrest is invented by Volvo, but Saab is the one that pioneered the "active" headrest system. Toyota's system uses some electronics, but i feel this is overkill for what it is suppose to do.
Sadly, few people actually adjust thier seating positions (correctly) and take full advantage of the saftey system already built into thier car. If your car already has properly adjusted headrests, chances of getting whiplash (from a rear impact) is already very minimal.
I think the active headrest not really suitable for everyone.
Point 1: As 4G63T DSM said. Sadly, few people actually adjust thier seating positions (correctly) and take full advantage of the saftey system already built into thier car. If your car already has properly adjusted headrests, chances of getting whiplash (from a rear impact) is already very minimal.
Point 2: Everyone has different height. Even those who seat in their proper position, but their heads don't really at the right position on head rest (as shown in the image above). The head might be higher or lower than the head rest even though after the head rest adjustment. So, this system can not fully function. Any idea.
Wow.Now HANS system in our family car.