An energy absorbing structure includes a base, a loading platform, a pair of side supports, a center support, and a pair of flexible segments. The loading platform is spaced apart from the base. The side supports project from the base toward the loading platform. The center support projects from the loading platform toward the base. The flexible segments extend from the side supports to the center support and connect the side supports to the center support. The flexible segments have straight edges and curved surfaces disposed between the straight edges. The straight edges extend from the side supports to the center support and are oriented at an oblique angle relative to the base. Each of the curved surfaces faces one of the base and the loading platform.

A grille assembly for a vehicle is disclosed and includes a forward frame portion, an aft frame portion, and a plurality of spring portions coupling the forward frame portion to the aft frame portion such that the forward frame is movable relative to the aft frame portion. A front end assembly for a vehicle is also disclosed that includes a bolster assembly and an active grille shutter system supported relative to the bolster assembly. The disclosed active grille shutter system includes a plurality of spring portions coupling forward and aft frame portions such that the forward frame is movable relative to the aft frame. Vanes are supported by at least one of the forward and aft frame portions and are rotatable for controlling airflow.

A cowl reinforcement structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for reinforcement of a cowl upper panel connected to a dash panel by forming a curved line along a front and rear direction of the vehicle includes a cowl upper side reinforcement member provided in a shape corresponding to the curved line of the cowl upper panel at the lower part of the cowl upper panel; and a cowl support bracket joined to the cowl upper side reinforcement member at the lower part of the cowl upper panel.

In an automobile hood, sufficient panel rigidity and dent resistance of a panel are secured while achieving weight reduction. An automobile hood having panel, reinforcing member and joint that joins the panel and the reinforcing member such that the reinforcing member includes a structure formed from a plurality of units having hexagonal annular shape disposed in a close-packed arrangement. Floor of the unit has an annular end part. All of annular end part is located between first circle and second circle wherein first circle is inscribed within a first ridge line overlapping with an outer end part of the floor. Second circle is concentric with first circle and has a radius that is 60% of a radius of the first circle. Width of upper face of floor is 2 mm or more over the entire area of the annular end part in the circumferential direction of the annular end part.

A hood assembly for a vehicle comprises an outer panel, an inner panel disposed inwardly of the outer panel and defining a lower, sealing surface, a crush volume defined between the outer panel and the inner panel; and a bridging member disposed within the crush volume and configured to extend supportively between the outer panel and the inner panel. The bridging member comprises a support surface that is in supportive contact with the outer panel and support members that extend from the support surface toward the inner panel for structural support of the hood assembly.

A front bumper includes a bumper fascia, an upper panel, and a shock absorbing member and a rigidity member in the interior of the upper panel. The shock absorbing member is formed in a hat shape in cross section by a front wall, an upper wall (a front-side upper wall and a rear-side upper wall), a rear wall, and a lower wall. The rigidity member includes an upper end portion fixed to the upper wall, a lower end portion fixed to the lower wall, and an intermediate portion connecting the upper end portion and the lower end portion in the vehicle up-down direction. The intermediate portion is spaced apart from the rear wall in the vehicle front-rear direction.

An increased amount of absorption of a load from the diagonally upper front side is achieved even in, for example, a vehicle having a high vehicle height. A first shock absorbing member is provided inside a bumper face upper to absorb a load from the diagonally upper front side, a second shock absorbing member is mounted on a front face portion of a bumper beam, and a third shock absorbing member is disposed below the first shock absorbing member and between a bumper face and the bumper beam to absorb a load from the diagonally upper front side. The rigidity of the first and third shock absorbing members in the up-down direction is higher than rigidity of the second shock absorbing member in the front-rear direction.

A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may include a housing and extend from a portion of a body of a vehicle. The sensor pod housing may have energy absorbing structures configured to absorb and dissipate energy during an impact in order to protect a pedestrian. The sensor pod may have deformable portions of the housing configured to absorb and dissipate energy during the impact. The sensor pod may have deformable fasteners coupling a sensor to the sensor pod configured to deform to absorb and dissipate energy during the impact.

A structure of a vehicle disclosed herein may include: a windshield; an instrument panel located below the windshield; in-vehicle equipment disposed such that the in-vehicle equipment projects upward above an upper surface of the instrument panel and is fixed to the instrument panel; and an impact relieving mechanism configured to, when a rearward and downward collision load is applied to the in-vehicle equipment, relieve the collision load by moving the in-vehicle equipment rearward and downward.

According to one aspect, a system that supports an undeployed airbag is arranged to enable the airbag to be substantially cradled while undeployed, and to enable the airbag to be deployed in a manner that substantially protects a vehicle panel positioned over the airbag from being severely damaged when the airbag deploys. Such a system may enable the undeployed airbag to be attached to the vehicle panel such that the panel may deform upon deployment of the airbag to substantially absorb some deployment energy. The absorption of some deployment energy may effectively reduce the likelihood of a person being injured, or an object being severely damaged, upon contact with a deploying or deployed airbag.