Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling at least one air conducting element (15) in a motor vehicle. Said device comprises a first gas sensor (51) and a second gas sensor (52) which generate signals in accordance with the harmful gas concentration in the ambient air. An output signal that is used for triggering the air conducting element is generated with the aid of a signal evaluation unit. The aim of the invention is to create a method and a device which are used for controlling an air conducting element, accurately detect and distinguish the different development of harmful gas concentrations in the atmosphere and trigger the air conducting elements accordingly, and are embodied in an inexpensive, reliable, and durable manner. Said aim is achieved by configuring an electronic decision unit (4) that determines which of the two sensor signals is fed to a single signal evaluation unit during the current interval.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor system for detecting a pedestrian collision in the front region of a motor vehicle, having at least one fiber optic sensor that extends in the front region of the motor vehicle largely over the entire vehicle width and can be deformed by the collision of an object in the front region, a signal being generated by the fiber optic sensor owing to the collision of the object. In order to specify a sensor system for detecting a pedestrian collision in the front region of a motor vehicle having at least one fiber optic sensor that enables a reliable distinction between the collision of animate and inanimate objects, there is arranged in the front region of the motor vehicle in addition to the fiber optic sensor at least one infrared sensor that generates a signal for distinguishing between the collision of animate and inanimate objects.