BMW working on car doors that prevent cycle injuries Thursday, April 9, 2009, 2:07 am
From New Scientist, BMW is working on car doors that slow down if something is in the way, say, a cyclist.
The current prototype looks like a normal car door, but an extra metal bar runs through its centre and connects to the car's frame between the hinges. In normal mode, the bar moves freely and doesn't affect the door's movement.
However, if sensors detect a nearby obstacle at the same time as an accelerometer detects an attempt to open the door, the door's swing is restricted by a linear motor attached to the bar.
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