Airbags are typically nestled within a vehicle’s cabin to help protect the driver and passengers in the event of an accident, but a new report indicates at least one German automaker is working on an external airbag intended to mitigate the forces from a side-impact crash.

Citing industry supplier TRW, Auto Express claims that “external side airbags are set to debut on a premium German saloon before the end of the decade.” Given its well-earned reputation as a technological innovator, there is a solid chance that the “premium German saloon” in question could be the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The side airbag system currently being developed by TRW uses a 200-liter bag that deploys from the vehicle’s sills in as little as 20 milliseconds. The bag deploys upwards, protecting the belt line of the vehicle in case of a crash.

The system relies on radar and camera-based sensors to deploy the bags, although TRW admits it is still working out the fine details.

“The firing strategy is the issue, as there needs to be a high level of confidence before we’re able to fire a non-reversible device prior to impact,” TRW vice president Norbert Kagerer said.

As things typically trickle from the top down in the auto industry, side external airbags could move into the mainstream sometime next decade.

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