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Volvo: New airbag protects pedestrians

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Published: March. 8, 2013 at 8:01 AM

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 8 (UPI) -- Swedish automaker Volvo displayed an airbag at an auto show in Switzerland that company officials said is meant to protect pedestrians hit by a car.

The so-called "pedestrian airbag" introduced at the show in Geneva is mounted under the car's hood and is designed to deploy if the vehicle hits a person at speeds of 12 to 30 mph, the New York Post reported Thursday.

Popular Mechanics explained that the airbag uses seven sensors to determine if the car has struck a human. If it has, the airbag protects against an impact against the windshield, an area that pedestrians often hit if they are struck.

Volvo, which is owned by a Chinese holding company, also introduced an automatic braking system at the auto show that runs through March 17.

The braking system senses a cyclist who has swerved in front of the car, setting off an alarm and applies the brakes automatically.

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