Exterior airbag deployment techniques

In or for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, a seat on which an occupant can sit, and a seatbelt associated with the seat, a method for reacting to an expected impact involving the vehicle, the method comprising:

• arranging at least one anticipatory sensor on the vehicle;
• receiving waves at each of the at least one anticipatory crash sensor that have been generated by, modified by or reflected from an object exterior of the vehicle;
• coupling a processor to the at least one anticipatory crash sensor;
• predicting, using the processor, an impact involving the vehicle and the object exterior to the vehicle prior to the impact based on the waves received by the at least one anticipatory crash sensor;
• assessing, using a processor, the probable severity of the predicted impact;
• and
• prior to the impact, activating at least one occupant restraint device in response to the predicted impact based on the assessed probable severity of the predicted impact, the at least one occupant restraint device comprising a seatbelt tensioner;
• and
• wherein the seatbelt tensioner is, upon activation, operable to tighten the seatbelt prior to the impact in an attempt to reduce the potential harm to the occupant resulting from the impact.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a passenger compartment;
• a seat arranged in said passenger compartment and on which an occupant can sit;
• a seatbelt associated with said seat;
• at least one occupant restraint device, said at least one occupant restraint device comprising a seatbelt tensioner;
• and
• an anticipatory crash system for reacting to an expected impact involving the vehicle, said anticipatory crash system comprising:
• at least one anticipatory crash sensor structured and arranged to receive waves generated by, modified by or reflected from an object exterior of the vehicle;
• a processor coupled to said at least one anticipatory crash sensor and configured to predict an impact involving the vehicle and the object exterior to the vehicle prior to the impact and assess the probable severity of the predicted impact;
• and
• said processor being further configured to activate said at least one occupant restraint device in response to the predicted impact based on the assessed probable severity of the predicted impact, said processor being arranged to activate said at least one occupant restraint device prior to the impact;
• and
• wherein the seatbelt tensioner is, upon activation by said processor, operable to tighten the seatbelt prior to the impact in an attempt to reduce the potential harm to the occupant resulting from the impact.