36 years old pillow
One of the most important safety devices for car occupants, the airbag, is just 36 years old.
Today it is difficult to imagine a passenger car without at least one gas cushion. Meanwhile, it is one of the most important devices protecting car travelers, now it is 36 years old.
It was invented in 1968 by the American company AK Breed. It was first used in the US on the Chevrolet Impala in 1973.
Known for its high level of safety, Volvo adopted it in 1987 with the 900 series offered for the North American market. Two years later, Volvo's flagship sold in Europe also featured a single gas cushion.
Today, car airbags protect not only the driver and front passenger from frontal collisions. Side impact and rollover airbags are also installed. In the latest Toyota Avensis, gas bags are also installed under the dashboard to protect the legs.
Increasingly, the next step is to install airbags on the outside of the vehicle to protect pedestrians.
Although the gas cushion principle has remained unchanged for 36 years, it has been significantly improved. There are already pillows with two-stage filling and those that inflate as much as necessary for a given impact force. Each gas bag is for single use only. Once it explodes, it cannot be used again.
