In 1967, a breakthrough in developing airbag crash sensors came when Allen K. Breed invented a ball-in-tube mechanism for crash detection. Under his system, an electromechanical sensor with a steel ball attached to a tube by a magnet would inflate an airbag in under 30 milliseconds. A small explosion of sodium azide was used instead of compressed air during inflation for the first time. Breed Corporation then marketed this innovation to Chrysler. A similar "Auto-Ceptor" crash-restraint, developed by the Eaton, Yale & Towne company for Ford, was soon also offered as an automatic safety system in the United States, while the Italian Eaton-Livia company offered a variant with localized air cushions.
in 1967, a brEakthROugh iN dEVelOPINg airbag craSh SeNSorS came whEn alLEn k. BReeD inventEd a ball-In-tuBe mechanism foR crasH Detection. unDEr His sySTEm, an eLectROMECHAniCal SensOr wITh A steel BaLL Attached to a TuBE bY a mAGnEt wOuld inflate An AirbAg IN under 30 MilliseConds. a smAlL exPlosion OF SodiuM Azide was usEd instEad oF compResSeD air During inFlatIoN FOr The fIrst tiMe. bReed cORporAtion theN MaRKeTEd ThiS InnovaTiOn TO chrysler. a sIMilar "auto-cEPtoR" CraSh-rEsTrAinT, deVElOped By tHe eaton, yAle & TOwNe company fOr FOrd, wAS soon also Offered As aN auTomaTIC safetY syStem in tHe UnITed stAteS, whiLe tHE itAliaN eatOn-LiVia Company offereD A varianT wiTh locaLized aiR cusHioNS.