World-First Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt Unveiled by Volvo
Volvo Cars has unveiled a groundbreaking new safety feature, the multi-adaptive seat belt system, set to debut in the upcoming Volvo EX60 electric SUV. This world-first technology aims to enhance safety in real-world traffic situations by optimising performance for each individual based on a range of factors.
The system expands the load-limiting profiles from three to eleven, increasing the possible number of settings. It analyses unique characteristics of a crash, such as direction, speed, and passenger posture, and adapts to traffic variations and the person wearing it.
The multi-adaptive seat belt system uses real-time data from the car's advanced sensors to customise protection. For instance, a smaller occupant in a milder crash would see a lower belt load setting to reduce the risk of rib fractures, while a larger occupant in a serious crash would receive a higher belt load setting to help reduce the risk of head injury.
This significant milestone for automotive safety was hailed by Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre. She noted, "The multi-adaptive safety belt is a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, a Volvo invention from 1959."
The original three-point seat belt was invented by Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin, a former aviation engineer at Saab. Bohlin designed the three-point seat belt to distribute the force of a crash more evenly across the torso, a design that has been estimated to have saved over a million lives.
In a nod to its origins, Volvo has decided to make the patent for the three-point seat belt free for any carmaker to use, leading to its widespread adoption as a modern safety standard. The modern three-point seat belt was first made available by Volvo in the Amazon and PV544 in 1959.
Volvo believes that the multi-adaptive safety belt system can improve its understanding of "the occupants, new scenarios and response strategies" with more data and insights. Furthermore, the system can be improved over time via over-the-air software updates.
The three-point seat belt was designed to be simple enough that even a child could buckle themselves in, a testament to its enduring impact on automotive safety. As we look forward to the future, it's clear that Volvo is committed to continuing this legacy with innovative safety technologies like the multi-adaptive seat belt system.
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