A team at German engineering company ZF has redesigned the car airbag to enable new high-tech cockpits.
The new design enables the driver's airbag to deploy from the top of the steering wheel, namely through the upper wheel rim and towards the occupant, instead of from the centre hub as at present.
The change might sound minor, but it makes entirely new designs for steering wheels possible, with the horizontal spoke and hub taking on a "smartphone-like design".
The solution could lead to touch displays and central screens on the kind of futuristic integrated steering wheels seen on many concept cars down the years.
"With this new concept, we are enabling design freedom for steering wheels without compromising safety," ZF development chief Harald Lutz said, announcing the new design in June.
Germany's second-largest automotive component supplier recently re-organized its car safety department as Lifetec. ZF is number two in the world airbag market behind Sweden's Autoliv, which introduced the first passenger airbag 25 years ago.
The airbag innovation is not likely to be seen on a production vehicle for some time, but ZF Lifetec said the new generation of steering wheel will "expand the design possibilities of future-oriented interior concepts."
Work is in progress on developing rotary switches, as well as force-sensitive and tactile surfaces integrated into the steering wheel as an anchor point.
Hands-on detection and a capacitive sensor under the leather surfaces will recognise how much grip the driver is applying to the wheel, ensuring that the focus on the road ahead and control of the vehicle is given top priority.
The rethink is all part of a trend towards seamless car interior design which has become increasingly popular in recent years, says ZF Lifetec.
Manufacturers are increasingly eliminating joints and gaps in the interior. This is also reflected in innovative lighting options and displays, which are integrated throughout the vehicle interior.
