Volvo is trying to enhance its popularity for security with the discharge of a brand new “multi-adaptive security belt” that makes use of real-time knowledge from the car’s sensors to higher shield the individual carrying it.
Seatbelt expertise hasn’t modified a lot since Volvo patented one of the first modern three-point safety belts within the early Sixties. However automobiles have modified considerably, including sensors, cameras, and high-powered computer systems to energy superior driver help options and anti-crash expertise.
Now, Volvo desires to place these devices to work for seatbelts. Trendy security belts use load limiters to manage how a lot pressure the protection belt applies on the human physique throughout a crash. Volvo says its new security belt expands the load-limiting profiles from three to 11 and will increase the attainable variety of settings, enabling it to tailor its efficiency to particular conditions and people.
As such, Volvo can use sensor knowledge to customise seatbelts primarily based on an individual’s peak, weight, physique form, and seating place. A bigger occupant, for instance, would obtain a better belt load setting to assist cut back the chance of a head harm in a crash, whereas a smaller individual in a milder crash would obtain a decrease belt load setting to scale back the chance of rib fractures.
Throughout a crash, Volvo says its automobiles’ security methods will share sensor knowledge — comparable to path, velocity, and passenger posture — with multi-adaptive seatbelts to find out how a lot pressure to use to the occupant’s physique. And utilizing over-the-air software program updates, Volvo guarantees that the seatbelts can enhance over time.
Volvo has beforehand deviated from conventional practices to introduce new applied sciences meant to underscore its dedication to security. The corporate limits the highest velocity on all of its automobiles to 112 mph — notably under the 155 mph established by a “gentleman’s agreement” between Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW to scale back the variety of fatalities on the Autobahn.
The brand new seatbelts will debut in the Volvo EX60, the automaker’s mid-sized electrical SUV which is scheduled to come back out subsequent yr.