1968Reputable sourceWell documented
The Airbag and the Crash Sensor
On the timeline · around 1968 ·
What happened
In 1968 the American inventor Allen Breed developed the world's first electromechanical automotive air-bag system — a low-cost crash sensor that could detect a collision and trigger an inflatable cushion in milliseconds. The reliable sensor was the missing piece that made airbags practical, and over the following decades they spread from a rare option to standard equipment.
Why it matters
Breed's crash sensor was the forerunner of the electronic sensors in every modern airbag. Together with the seat belt, the airbag is among the safety advances that have sharply cut deaths and injuries in car crashes.
Sources
- Lemelson-MIT Program. Allen Breed — Automotive Air Bags · Reputable source