Abstract: A method helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle (10) equipped with an automated driving system (200) and a vehicle safety system (100) by detecting low impact crash events (99) with the vehicle (10). The method includes utilizing automated driving sensors (220, 230, 240, 250, 260) of the automated driving system (200) to identify possible low impact collision risks. The method also includes utilizing vehicle safety system sensors (110, 115, 120, 125, 130) of the vehicle safety system to determine a low impact collision resulting from the identified possible low impact collision. A vehicle safety system (100) includes an airbag controller unit (150) configured to implement the method to determine low impact crash events with the vehicle (10).

Abstract: A method for controlling an actuatable safety device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle includes sensing a left upfront vehicle acceleration via a left upfront sensor, sensing a middle upfront vehicle acceleration via a middle upfront sensor, and sensing a right upfront vehicle acceleration via a right upfront sensor. The method also includes sensing a central vehicle acceleration via a central airbag control unit. The method further includes determining the occurrence of a vehicle crash event in response to determining that each of the left, middle, and right upfront vehicle accelerations exceeds a predetermined magnitude and is phase shifted from the central vehicle acceleration.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system for helping to protect a pedestrian in the event of a vehicle frontal collision with the pedestrian includes a plurality of crash sensors for sensing a vehicle frontal collision, an actuatable pedestrian protection device, a controller for controlling actuation of the pedestrian protection device, and at least one active sensor for determining the presence of a pedestrian in the path of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle (10) equipped with an automated driving system (200) and a vehicle safety system (100) by detecting low impact crash events (99) with the vehicle (10). The method includes utilizing automated driving sensors (220, 230, 240, 250, 260) of the automated driving system (200) to identify possible low impact collision risks. The method also includes utilizing vehicle safety system sensors (110, 115, 120, 125, 130) of the vehicle safety system to determine a low impact collision resulting from the identified possible low impact collision. A vehicle safety system (100) includes an airbag controller unit (150) configured to implement the method to determine low impact crash events with the vehicle (10).