External airbag deployment method and system

An external airbag deployment system, comprising:

• a controller configured to:
• set a detection area located in front of a vehicle;
• update physical characteristics of a plurality of objects detected in the detection area at intervals of a measurement period of a front sensor;
• calculate predicted physical characteristics at intervals of a unit time during each measurement period;
• select a target object from the plurality of objects detected in the detection area by comparing a relative velocity, an overlap, and a Time To External Airbag (EAB)(TTE) calculated as the physical characteristics, wherein the TTE is a remaining time until each object collides with an airbag cushion when the external airbag is predicted to be deployed;
• and
• deploy the external airbag when a relative velocity and an overlap, predicted at a time when the target object is predicted to collide with the vehicle, are greater than predetermined levels.

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a processor or controller, the computer readable medium comprising:

• program instructions that set a detection area located in front of a vehicle;
• program instructions that update physical characteristics of a plurality of objects detected in the detection area at intervals of a measurement period of a front sensor;
• program instructions that calculate predicted physical characteristics at intervals of a unit time during each measurement period;
• program instructions that select a target object from the plurality of objects detected in the detection area by comparing a relative velocity, an overlap, and a Time To External Airbag (EAB)(TTE) calculated as the physical characteristics, wherein the TIE is a remaining time until each object collides with an airbag cushion when the external airbag is predicted to be deployed;
• and
• program instructions that deploy the external airbag when a relative velocity and an overlap, predicted at a time when the target object is predicted to collide with the vehicle, are greater than predetermined levels.