[sammyg2]

I remember my father making business trips to Detroit in the mid 60's.
Seems the auto makers had hired his company (Hercules) to act as "explosive" consultants.

The industry has come up with some new-fangled gizmo called an air bag but the stuff they were using to expand the bags would be too dangerous to passengers.

My father and his colleagues came up with a slower acting explosive that could be controlled and timed so it wouldn't kill the people in the car.
It would later be slowed down even more.