German student invents airbag for smartphone: a case that detects when it’s falling and deploys springs to prevent breaks

There are plenty of case options to effectively protect mobile phones from damage — whether it's water damage, cracks, scrapes or anything in between. But these cases often come with a price: They add significant bulk to devices that are typically carried around in pockets all day.

A German student named Philip Frenzel has patented a potential solution for this problem: the AD (active dampening) phone case. The case comes with sensors that can detect when the phone is in free-fall, which prompts the release of four springs that cause the phone to bounce when it hits the ground — dampening the impact, and hopefully preventing any scrapes or cracks, Business Insider reports.

While the case seems like a good solution for drops on flat surfaces, it doesn't look like it would prevent scratches or cracks if the phone fell onto a jagged edge or anything that is uneven.

It's not for sale yet, but Frenzel has already acquired a patent and has received an award from the German Society of Mechatronics for his creation.