Deployable A-pillar covers for pedestrian protection

A pedestrian protection apparatus for a motor vehicle having a hood, a windshield, and left and right A-pillars disposed adjacent left and right ends of the windshield respectively, the apparatus comprising:

• a left A-pillar cover and a right A-pillar cover, the A-pillar covers having a retracted condition wherein they are adjacent the respective A-pillars, and movable to a deployed condition wherein the A-pillar covers are spaced forwardly from the respective A-pillars;
• an actuator system operative to move the A-pillar covers from the retracted condition to the deployed condition prior to a pedestrian impact with the A-pillar covers;
• at least one damper operatively connected with the A-pillar covers to resist movement of the A-pillar covers from the deployed condition toward the retracted condition in order to absorb impact energy.

A method of lessening the degree of injury suffered by a pedestrian when struck by a motor vehicle having a hood, a windshield, and left and right A-pillars disposed adjacent left and right ends of the windshield respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

• predicting an impact of the pedestrian with the vehicle;
• and
• moving a left A-pillar cover and a right A-pillar cover in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a retracted position wherein the A-pillar covers are in front of and adjacent the respective A-pillars to a deployed condition wherein the A-pillar covers are directly in front of and spaced from the respective A-pillars.