So, with all of the cameras and sensors on Tesla vehicles as well as the onboard AI computer.
It occurred to me that a Tesla vehicle would probably have at least 250ms to 500ms warning that an unavoidable accident was about to occur.
Having said that does it make sense to add external airbags to Tesla vehicles?
The major cons of course are that an unnecessary deployment could cause an accident. It would be really bad for the vehicle to think that it's about to collide with a pedestrian or cyclist that it was passing, deploy a side external airbag and thereby cause a collision.
If that scenario can be guaranteed to never happen, the benefits of external airbags are staggering.
1. With more time to deploy, the deploy speed can be slower.
2. With more distance to deploy into, the deploy from the vehicle can be much larger.
3. It protects both vehicles, and prevents vehicle damage.
4. With a Cybertruck, it may prevent any and all damage to the truck, since the air bag would be the vehicle crumple zone.
5. It starts the collision sooner and spreads it out over more distance and time. This reduces the maximum accelerations experienced by all people, and vehicles involved.
6. For side impact, where most vehicles have very little room for crumple zones, it provides a major survivability improvement for all involved.
7. In case of a water landing, it doubles as a flotation device and can allow the vehicle to float for hours or days. Who knows, it could even be upgraded to Cybertruck boat mode. LOL
It occurred to me that a Tesla vehicle would probably have at least 250ms to 500ms warning that an unavoidable accident was about to occur.
Having said that does it make sense to add external airbags to Tesla vehicles?
The major cons of course are that an unnecessary deployment could cause an accident. It would be really bad for the vehicle to think that it's about to collide with a pedestrian or cyclist that it was passing, deploy a side external airbag and thereby cause a collision.
If that scenario can be guaranteed to never happen, the benefits of external airbags are staggering.
1. With more time to deploy, the deploy speed can be slower.
2. With more distance to deploy into, the deploy from the vehicle can be much larger.
3. It protects both vehicles, and prevents vehicle damage.
4. With a Cybertruck, it may prevent any and all damage to the truck, since the air bag would be the vehicle crumple zone.
5. It starts the collision sooner and spreads it out over more distance and time. This reduces the maximum accelerations experienced by all people, and vehicles involved.
6. For side impact, where most vehicles have very little room for crumple zones, it provides a major survivability improvement for all involved.
7. In case of a water landing, it doubles as a flotation device and can allow the vehicle to float for hours or days. Who knows, it could even be upgraded to Cybertruck boat mode. LOL
