Steering Mounted Screens Now Possible Thanks to ZF LIFETEC Innovative Airbag Design

For the past three decades, most cars have had driver's airbags as a standard safety equipment which has helped to save lives and minimise injuries significantly. Since its inception, airbags are always placed within the steering wheel hub smack in the centre for easy deployment.

However, the steering wheel has evolved much beyond its basic purpose and now can even function as a multipurpose command centre which includes controls for entertainment and vehicle function. In response to these, ZF LIFETEC has pioneered a new series of steering wheels that are designed to complement modern interior design.

ZF LIFETEC’s future interior designs would be designed in such a way that the airbag would deploy from the top side of the steering wheel, through the upper rim, towards the driver. This layout enables the horizontal spoke and hub to have a unified, smartphone-like appearance.

"With this new concept, we are enabling design freedom for steering wheels without compromising safety," explains Harald Lutz, ZF LIFETEC Head of Development.

This seamless design enables the use of new materials and shapes with the inclusion of on-demand functionality, touch displays, and even centre mounted screens would now be possible. However, despite these developments, user-friendliness and safety remains key, as the steering wheel is an important safety component after all.

Furthermore, these functionalities are supplemented by hands-on detection technology, which uses a capacitive sensor beneath the leather surface to identify whether the driver is simply touching or securely gripping the wheel, thus improving vehicle safety.