BFGoodrich introduces inflatable seatbelt

SmartBelt, seat belts with integral airbags, have been introduced by the BFGoodrich Company. The Smartbelt systems work with existing vehicle airbags. During a significant crash, the system rapidly inflates a bladder that runs the length of the belt from the buckle to the upper part of the seat or pillar. The system deploys in the first ten milliseconds of a crash, compared to 25 to 30 milliseconds for the vehicle’s dashboard and steering wheel bags, allowing the SmartBelts to “preposition” the wearer to better accept the force of the airbag. “The inflatable seatbelt is a giant step forward for passenger safety because it provides airbag-like qualities while deploying away from the wearer and then cradling him or her into the impact,” says Mike Vecchio, Safety Consultant for BFGoodrich. Other benefits include superior performance in side impact crashes and rollovers, as well as reduced pain or injury from seatbelt webbing. Originally designed for use in aircraft, the systems are expected to be available to the public within two years.