Smarter Seatbelts: Volvo's Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt Revolution
Volvo invents a digital seatbelt for enhanced vehicle passenger safety.
The three-point seat belt has long been hailed as a lifesaver. Today, advancements in technology are breathing new life into this stalwart safety feature. Leading the charge is Volvo, who is taking the classic seatbelt and making it smarter, starting with their multi-adaptive safety belt.
paramedic Benny, who regularly deals with post-accident car extraction, understands the importance of seat belts. He observes, "Airbags and assistance systems already help mitigate the consequences of a severe crash - but without a fastened seat belt, most people would likely be dead." However, he's not entirely pleased with the conventional belt: "It's still a pretty outdated device that brutally pulls and throws you back into the seat. It can cause injuries."
Volvo's safety experts, on the other hand, see an opportunity to bring the seat belt into the future. Their multi-adaptive safety belt can adapt to different occupants and traffic situations, retracting individually into the seat in case of a crash. Connected to the vehicle's central computer, it can tap into real-time data from various sensors, allowing it to adjust the belt force and retention performance more precisely than ever before.
In an effort to prevent many painful crash consequences, situations like broken ribs in slender women due to aggressive tightening or neck and head injuries in very tall passengers may become a thing of the past. Traditional seat belts were designed for the average individual; however, not everyone fits that mold. "But not everyone is close to the average," says accident researcher Lotta Jakobsson.
Volvo's smart belt can now optimally adjust its force to suit various factors such as the size, weight, body shape, and sitting position of the occupants, as well as the specific crash situation. Technologies like belt force limiting profiles, while available before, were limited to a few scenarios due to a lack of connection to real-time data computers, sensors, and cameras. In its fully electric EX60, set to hit the roads next year, Volvo can quadruple this number of profiles. "And in all new vehicles on this platform," promises technical director Anders Bell, "the belt will become even smarter and more sensitive, as we continuously feed new data from our crash tests, real accidents, or previous evaluations of vehicle data into the system - wirelessly and overnight."
Embracing the Digital Age of Automotive Safety
The belt is just one example of how digital networking is enhancing safety features in vehicles. The software on wheels offers countless opportunities for protective systems in the future. A network of cameras, radar, lidar, and computing technology creates a digital cocoon that keeps an eye on the car and its surroundings.
According to Volvo, data is the central safety feature of the coming years, and they have more of it than most other manufacturers. Since the 1970s, they have evaluated over 43,000 real accidents involving over 72,000 people. These invaluable insights form the basis for many of the safety solutions now in series production.
For instance, Volvo's SUV EX90 introduces the "Safe Space Technology." At its core is a powerful central computer that processes information from cameras, radar, and lidar in real-time. Sensors detect other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists up to 250 meters away, even in challenging lighting conditions. Combined with artificial intelligence, hypothetical hazardous scenarios can be simulated, preparing the system for unprecedented situations.
Numerous safety systems within the vehicle are monitored constantly, including driver drowsiness or distraction. In the event of a non-response, the system takes over, ensuring the vehicle brakes gently, stops, and alerts emergency services if needed. The trend towards more powerful and connected safety data is on the rise, with authorities, insurers, and service providers equally interested in these insights. As vehicles become more intelligent, predictive, and safe, data truly becomes the new shield, with the conventional seat belt merely serving as a compliance aid.
While the advantages of this technological leap forward are indisputable, privacy concerns persist. Some question the necessity of such intrusive monitoring, pointing to the need for an open dialogue regarding "interventions in driving behavior." Volvo aims to use these systems for safety purposes and anonymize personal data, whereas other manufacturers have less clarity in their terms of service. It is essential to navigate these waters carefully, fostering transparency and respect for individual privacy.
References:[1] ntv.de, Peter Weißenberg, sp-x[2] Volvo Cars[3] SaferCars.gov
- In an evolving automotive industry, Volvo's multi-adaptive safety belt, a product of technological advancements, stands as a testament to the digital age of automotive safety.
- As Volvo continues to integrate data-and-cloud-computing into their vehicles, finance and insurance sectors may be influenced by the wealth of real-time data generated for predictive safety measures, with safety becoming the new priority over traditional seatbelts.
- As transportation methods transition towards a more connected and automated future, vocational training programs may need to adapt to accommodate the influx of technology-driven positions within the industry, ensuring a well-equipped workforce capable of maintaining and advancing these cutting-edge safety features.
