the.com/airbags
a nylon fist that inflates faster than you can blink, just to catch your face.
means a crash sensor triggers a chemical explosion that fills a bag with gas in milliseconds to cushion you from the steering wheel.
from patented in the 1950s after engineers survived close-call crashes, but it took until the 1970s chemistry of sodium azide propellant to make split-second inflation actually work.
deployment speedinflates in about 1/20th of a second
forcecan deploy at over 200 mph outward
chemical reactionsodium azide burns to produce nitrogen gas
early riskfirst versions sometimes injured smaller occupants