Volvo's New Seat Belt Technology: A Step Towards Individualized Crash Protection
A car crash is a traumatic experience that can result in serious injuries or even fatalities. For decades, seat belts have been the primary means of preventing such outcomes. The technology has undergone significant improvements over the years, with Volvo being at the forefront of innovation. In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin patented the three-point safety belt, which revolutionized car safety. Now, 67 years later, Volvo is introducing a new multi-adaptive seat belt system that can adjust to an individual's size and weight, providing unparalleled protection in the event of a crash.
The New Seat Belt System
Volvo's latest seat belt technology uses a central computing system called HuginCore, which runs at over 250 trillion operations per second. This advanced AI-powered system is fed data from various sensors, including exterior, interior, and crash sensors. The system then calculates the optimal force to apply to the seat belt based on the type of collision, passenger size, and weight.
The new seat belt system boasts several significant improvements compared to traditional designs:
* Load limiters: Volvo's system pushes the number of load-limiting profiles from three to 11, providing more adjustability.
* Over-the-air updates: The HuginCore system can receive future software updates, ensuring that the technology stays current with the latest safety standards.
Tempering for individual protection
One of the key aspects of the new seat belt system is its ability to temper movement. By adjusting the seat belt force based on an individual's size and weight, Volvo aims to reduce the risk of head injuries in severe crashes while minimizing the impact on smaller passengers in lesser fender benders.
"Tempering that motion means adjusting for the size of the passenger to avoid injury," explains Senior Safety Technical Leader Mikael Ljung Aust. "It's like an audio system – a sound system with 10 discrete steps up the volume ladder offers varied profiles along the way, while one with only one or two steps addresses fewer preference levels."
AI-powered timing
The new seat belt system relies heavily on artificial intelligence to determine when to apply optimal force. This involves analyzing data from various sensors and calculating the best course of action in real-time.
"The result needs to happen like that," says Ljung Aust, snapping his fingers to illustrate the importance of precise timing.
The Future of Safety
Volvo's multi-adaptive seat belt system represents a significant step forward in car safety. By providing individualized protection based on an individual's size and weight, Volvo aims to reduce injuries and fatalities on the road.
"The best thing you can do is wear your seatbelt," emphasizes Ljung Aust. "If you find out how it works, you realize it's pretty cool – and it actually makes a difference."
A car crash is a traumatic experience that can result in serious injuries or even fatalities. For decades, seat belts have been the primary means of preventing such outcomes. The technology has undergone significant improvements over the years, with Volvo being at the forefront of innovation. In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin patented the three-point safety belt, which revolutionized car safety. Now, 67 years later, Volvo is introducing a new multi-adaptive seat belt system that can adjust to an individual's size and weight, providing unparalleled protection in the event of a crash.
The New Seat Belt System
Volvo's latest seat belt technology uses a central computing system called HuginCore, which runs at over 250 trillion operations per second. This advanced AI-powered system is fed data from various sensors, including exterior, interior, and crash sensors. The system then calculates the optimal force to apply to the seat belt based on the type of collision, passenger size, and weight.
The new seat belt system boasts several significant improvements compared to traditional designs:
* Load limiters: Volvo's system pushes the number of load-limiting profiles from three to 11, providing more adjustability.
* Over-the-air updates: The HuginCore system can receive future software updates, ensuring that the technology stays current with the latest safety standards.
Tempering for individual protection
One of the key aspects of the new seat belt system is its ability to temper movement. By adjusting the seat belt force based on an individual's size and weight, Volvo aims to reduce the risk of head injuries in severe crashes while minimizing the impact on smaller passengers in lesser fender benders.
"Tempering that motion means adjusting for the size of the passenger to avoid injury," explains Senior Safety Technical Leader Mikael Ljung Aust. "It's like an audio system – a sound system with 10 discrete steps up the volume ladder offers varied profiles along the way, while one with only one or two steps addresses fewer preference levels."
AI-powered timing
The new seat belt system relies heavily on artificial intelligence to determine when to apply optimal force. This involves analyzing data from various sensors and calculating the best course of action in real-time.
"The result needs to happen like that," says Ljung Aust, snapping his fingers to illustrate the importance of precise timing.
The Future of Safety
Volvo's multi-adaptive seat belt system represents a significant step forward in car safety. By providing individualized protection based on an individual's size and weight, Volvo aims to reduce injuries and fatalities on the road.
"The best thing you can do is wear your seatbelt," emphasizes Ljung Aust. "If you find out how it works, you realize it's pretty cool – and it actually makes a difference."