release
Press Release
Press release
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Crash sensors fitted in cars can gauge the severity
of an accident in milliseconds
Continental has produced 250 million acceleration and pressure satellites in
Regensburg and Ingolstadt over the past 16 years.
Regensburg/Ingolstadt, Germany, December 21, 2010: This December has seen the 250
millionth airbag satellite come off the production line at a factory run by Continental, the
international automotive supplier.
Each car is equipped with up to ten of these satellites. In the event of an accident, they
measure the deceleration rates and pressure changes in the vehicle caused by the impact
and transmit this data directly to the airbag control unit. This provides the occupants of a
vehicle involved in an accident with the best-possible protection by activating lifesaving
restraint systems such as airbags and seat-belt tensioners. These satellites have been
produced in Regensburg and Ingolstadt since as far back as 1994 as part of Continental's
comprehensive passive safety systems.
The gSAT acceleration satellite is now regarded as standard in modern vehicles. By
measuring deceleration rates in the vehicle’s front structures and swiftly transmitting this data
to the airbag control unit in the event of a crash, this satellite can determine the exact point of
impact – as well as its duration and intensity – in just milliseconds.
Optimum protection against side impacts
Because of the small crumple zone available in side collisions, it is particularly important for
the safety systems to react quickly. This is ensured by the pSAT pressure satellite, which
combines with the acceleration satellite to offer optimum protection for vehicle occupants.
The pressure satellite is installed in the door cavity, where it can directly measure pressure
changes caused by collisions. Short reaction times ensure that the lifesaving restraint
systems are activated immediately.
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Contact:
Nicole Geißler, tel. +49 (0)69 7603 8492
-2Platform for developing new technologies
More than 31 million acceleration satellites and approximately nine million pressure satellites
have been produced in Regensburg and Ingolstadt in 2010 alone. Continental's Chassis &
Safety Division has built on this proven and highly successful technology, for example, to
develop its new pedestrian protection system, in which pressure sensors in the front bumper
can reliably detect accidents involving pedestrians and activate safety systems in the
vehicle's body. The active hood of the vehicle is raised in order to prevent the pedestrian who
has been hit from being injured by the impact with the hood and the underlying engine block.
With targeted annual sales of €25 billion for 2010, Continental is among the leading automotive
suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and
chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers,
Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a
competent partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs
approximately 146,000 in 46 countries.
The Automotive Group with its three divisions, Chassis & Safety (sales of approximately €4.4 billion
in 2009, 27,000 employees), Powertrain (sales of approximately €3.4 billion in 2009, 24,000
employees) and Interior (sales of approximately €4.4 billion in 2009, 27,000 employees) achieved
sales of approximately €12 billion in 2009. The Automotive Group is present in more than 130
locations worldwide. As a partner of the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, it develops and
produces innovative products and systems for a modern automotive future, in which cars provide
individual mobility and driving pleasure consistent with driving safety, environmental responsibility and
cost-efficiency.
The Chassis & Safety Division develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis
control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, airbag electronics and-sensorics, washer
systems and electronic air suspension systems. Its core competence is the integration of active and
passive driving safety into ContiGuard®. The Powertrain Division integrates innovative and efficient
system solutions for vehicle powertrains. The comprehensive range of products includes gasoline and
diesel injection systems, engine management, transmission control, including sensors and actuators,
as well as fuel-supply systems and components and systems for hybrid and electric drives.
Information management is at the very heart of the Interior Division, which provides a range of
products that includes instrument clusters and multifunctional displays, control units, electronic carentry systems, tire-monitoring systems, radios, multimedia and navigation systems, climate control
systems, telematics solutions and cockpit modules and systems.
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Contact:
Nicole Geißler, tel. +49 (0)69 7603 8492
-3Contact for journalists:
Nicole Geissler
External Communications
Continental
Division Chassis & Safety
Guerickestraße 7
60488 Frankfurt am Main
Tel.: +49 69 7603-8492
Fax: +49 69 7603-3945
nicole.geissler@continental-corporation.com
www.continental-automotive.com
Contact:
Nicole Geißler, tel. +49 (0)69 7603 8492
www.continental-corporation.com