Since few years, appearance of front vehicles has changed progressively to become friendly towards pedestrians and to meet new regulatory and Euro NCAP queries.

In 2009, Pedestrian Protection received an additional weight with the second phase of the European regulation “Phase 2” and the new scheme of EuroNCAP rating. Requirements on head impact injuries mitigation have been reinforced and compel cars designers to make advised choices between passive and active solutions.

Car designers implement passive solutions with significant changes of the structure to provide a clearance between the bonnet and hard surfaces underneath, allowing free deformations of the bonnet and head energy absorption during the impact.

In parallel, more and more solutions named active hinge systems (or bonnet deployment mechanism) are selected with the aim to lift the bonnet in few milliseconds when a pedestrian knocks the bumper, and to create the saving space under the bonnet surface.

The choice of such active hinge systems is lead by relevant benefits because they allow for:​

• car designers, greater freedom for the style;​
• carmakers, to meet C02 rate limitation by improving aerodynamic characteristics;​
• consumers, to reduce gasoline consumption. In January 2011, Euro NCAP working group on pedestrian protection has officially published a method for testing “pop-up” bonnets. As a consequence, active hinge systems can be from now assessed with an official and comprehensive document.

The Bonnet Active Actuator (B2A) designed by SNPE Matériaux Energétiques (SME) is a smart pyrotechnic piston lifter specially designed to operate Active Hinge Systems and to help carmakers to increase the pedestrian score and so to get a satisfying Euro NCAP rating.

The Bonnet Active Actuator (B2A) has been tested in various cars environment and is ready for applications in cars programs.