External air bag occupant protection system

An occupant protection system, comprising:

• a. at least one external air bag inflator module, wherein said at least one external air bag inflator module comprises a plurality of inflatable confinements and an associated plurality of gas generator modules, wherein said plurality of inflatable confinements are located so as to cooperate with a common side or end of the vehicle;
• b. a predictive collision sensing system, wherein said predictive collision sensing system comprises at least one predictive collision sensor operatively coupled to the vehicle, and said predictive collision sensing system is adapted to provide i) an indication of whether the vehicle is expected to collide with an external object, ii) a measure of a size of the object, and iii) a predicted location on the vehicle at which the object is expected to collide;
• and
• c. a processor operatively coupled to said plurality of gas generator modules and to said predictive collision sensing system, wherein said processor controls an actuation of at least one gas generator module responsive to said indication of whether the vehicle is expected to collide with an external object, said measure of said size of the object, and said predicted location on the vehicle at which the object is expected to collide.