US 11,794,686 B2
Deployable decoy vehicle system
Joseph T. Conners, Royal Oak, MI (US)
Assigned to Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/83,157.
Prior Publication US 2022/0126781 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 21/36 (2011.01); B60R 21/0134 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 21/36 (2013.01) [B60R 21/0134 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle comprising:
a compartment disposed within the vehicle;
an inflator disposed within the vehicle; and
an airbag configured as a decoy vehicle, wherein the airbag is stored within the compartment and inflatable by the inflator,
wherein, when the airbag is inflated, the decoy vehicle:
extends from an outer surface of the vehicle,
comprises a shape recognizable, to a sensor and collision detection system on an approaching second vehicle, as at least a portion of a solid structure of the vehicle, and
is configured to absorb at least some energy from a collision between the vehicle and the approaching second vehicle.