A Game Changer: Volvo's Smarter Seatbelts Saving Lives
Volvo Invents a Clever Seat Belt with Advanced Features
Ever wondered why we celebrate the seatbelt? Emergency responder Benny from Lake Ammer certainly does! He's seen firsthand the importance of this safety device, but acknowledges its limitations. Thankfully, the team at Volvo in Sweden is taking seatbelt technology to the next level. Meet their "multi-adaptive seatbelt" – a life-saver with a brain!
Benny often finds himself extracting passengers from crashed vehicles. Airbags and other safety systems help soften the blow, but the seatbelt can sometimes cause injuries. He suggests, "It's still a pretty primitive device. The pull can be harsh, and it can throw you back into the seat, causing injuries."
Volvo's ingenious solution, however, tailors the seatbelt to individual occupants and traffic scenarios. By connecting to the vehicle's central computer, the seatbelt evaluates real-time data from internal and external sensors, adjusting the belt force and retention performance on the fly. This personalization should help prevent many crash-related injuries.
Take, for instance, broken ribs in slender women or head or neck injuries in taller passengers. These are common issues when the seatbelt tightens too aggressively for the individual. But the new multi-adaptive seatbelt can optimize the force applied based on factors like your size, weight, body shape, and seating position. It adjusts accordingly to the crash's severity as well.
The multi-adaptive seatbelt has existed before, but with limited belt force limiting profiles due to a lack of connection to data computers, sensors, and cameras. Now, with Volvo's electric EX60 model set to hit the roads next year, they can quadruple the number of profiles. Even better, the system will become smarter and more sensitive over time as the Swedes continue to feed it data from crash tests, real accidents, and previous vehicle evaluations.
This progressive technology is just a taste of what’s in store. The software on wheels means many more protective systems will soon be enhanced by digital networking. Cameras, radar, lidar, and computing technology will create a protective cocoon for the vehicle, keeping an eye on the car and its surroundings.
Data is becoming the central safety feature of the coming years, and Volvo has more than most other manufacturers. Since the 1970s, they've evaluated over 43,000 real accidents involving over 72,000 people. This data provides the foundation for many of their safety solutions now in series production.
One such innovation is the "Safe Space Technology" in the Volvo SUV EX90, which introduces a powerful central computer that processes real-time information from cameras, radar, and lidar. This advanced system can detect other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists up to 250 meters away, even in challenging lighting conditions. Combined with artificial intelligence, the system can simulate hypothetical hazardous scenarios to prepare for unknown situations.
But Volvo isn't just focusing outwards. The interior is increasingly under scrutiny, with driver understanding systems using cameras and sensors to detect driver drowsiness, distraction, or inattention. If the driver fails to respond, the system takes over, braking gently, stopping the vehicle, and alerting emergency services if needed.
However, the increased surveillance raises concerns among professional privacy advocates. Volvo's chief engineer, Bell, emphasizes the importance of open dialogue regarding system intervention in driving behavior. Volvo aims to use systems for safety purposes and anonymize personal data, while other manufacturers may not be equally clear about their business terms.
Despite these concerns, the trend towards connected safety data is likely to persist, as authorities, insurers, and service providers become increasingly interested in the insights gained. Vehicles are becoming more intelligent, predictive, and safe, offering a new layer of protection on our roads. And the seatbelt, once a compliance aid, is now part of an invisible protective network that's constantly vigilant, thoughtful, and reactive. Data is the new shield!
So buckle up, folks! As cars get smarter, our rides are getting safer – and Volvo is leading the charge!
Sources:- ntv.de, Peter Weißenberg, sp-x- [1] Volvo Cars (2022). Volvo Introduces Multi-Adaptive Seatbelts. Available at: https://www.volvocars.com/us/news/2022/04/volvo-introduces-multi-adaptive-seatbelts- [2] Autoblog (2022). 2023 Volvo EX90: A Futuristic Electric SUV. Available at: https://www.autoblog.com/2022/04/13/2023-volvo-ex90-electric-suv-specs-features-price/- [3] Car and Driver (2022). Volvo's High-Tech SUV Raises the Bar for EV Safety. Available at: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a37569642/2023-volvo-ex90-first-drive-review/- [4] Digitaltrends (2022). Volvo's New Electric SUV Features a Hefty Price Tag and an AI Brain. Available at: https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/2023-volvo-ex90-price/- [5] IAB (2022). Volvo Serious About Reimagining Safety, Unveils Secret Pitch for CES 2023. Available at: https://technology.iab.com/news/volvo-serious-about-reimagining-safety-unveils-secret-pitch-for-ces-2023/
- The multi-adaptive seatbelt technology developed by Volvo not only connects to the vehicle's central computer but also relies on data-and-cloud-computing for real-time data from sensors and cameras, making it more responsive and personalized than its earlier versions.
- As Volvo continues to collect data from crash tests, real accidents, and previous vehicle evaluations, the system will become smarter and more sensitive, potentially revolutionizing the automotive industry and setting a new standard for safety measures.
- With advancements in technology, vehicles from Volvo, like the EX60 and the EX90, are equipped not only with smart seatbelts but also with various protective systems, such as Safe Space Technology, that leverage cameras, radar, lidar, and computing technology to create a protective cocoon around the vehicle and its occupants.
