Airbags are designed to deploy extremely quickly in the event of a collision to provide immediate protection to vehicle occupants. Here are the key details regarding airbag deployment speed:
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Deployment Speed: Airbags typically deploy within 20 to 30 milliseconds after a collision is detected. This rapid deployment is crucial to ensure the airbag is fully inflated before the occupants can be thrown forward by the impact.
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Inflation Time: Once triggered, the airbag inflates at a speed of up to 200 miles per hour. This high speed is necessary to ensure the airbag is in the correct position to cushion the occupants.
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Sensing and Activation: The vehicle's sensors detect a collision almost instantly, sending a signal to the airbag control module to deploy the airbags. This entire process happens in a fraction of a second to maximize occupant safety.
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Deflation: After deployment, airbags deflate quickly through vents in the fabric, allowing the occupants to move and exit the vehicle if necessary.