ZF has created an airbag with a built-in screen in the steering wheel
The screen in the center of the steering wheel seems like an obvious idea, but it is complicated by safety requirements, because this is usually the place where an inflatable cushion is located. ZF engineers were able to solve this problem.
ZF has figured out how to fit a display into the steering wheel of the future. The ZF Lifetec design obviously retains the airbag, but it no longer deploys from the center of the wheel. Instead, it inflates from the top edge.
According to ZF Lifetec, this freed up fixed space in the center of the steering wheel, making it ready for a “smartphone-like interface.” The company is thinking about placing a central screen or several touchscreens. This gives car manufacturers more freedom to design the steering wheel without compromising safety.
The team behind this project explains that it doesn’t have to be a full-screen layout, as it can be a hybrid installation that combines a rotary switch with tactile surfaces. By providing engineers with more space in the center of the steering wheel, additional sensors can be installed in cars equipped with a semi-autonomous driving system. According to ZF Lifetec, this practical solution, which tells the car that you are still paying attention to the road, will increase safety.
