Compliant trigger mechanism for active hood sensor activation

A vehicle comprising:

• an exterior body structure defining a leading surface of the vehicle;
• an impact beam disposed interior to the exterior body structure and spaced apart from the exterior body structure;
• a compliant mechanism disposed between the exterior body structure and the impact beam and including an arm portion movable from a first position to a second position relative to the impact beam in response to an impact at the exterior body structure, a first jaw portion attached to a distal end of the arm portion at a first hinge point located at a first distal end of the first jaw portion, and a second jaw portion attached to the first jaw portion at a second hinge point located at a second distal end of the first jaw portion, the first jaw portion rotating about the first hinge point and the second hinge point to move the first jaw portion toward the second jaw portion when the arm portion is moved from the first position to the second position;
• and
• a sensor tube disposed between the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion, the sensor tube generating a signal that is indicative of the impact at the exterior body structure in response to compression of the sensor tube between the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion as the first jaw portion is moved toward the second jaw portion.