Safe and sensitive

Sensor fusion is the latest data-sharing scheme for improving the performance of safety systems.

In the past few years, safety has become an even greater focus of engineers, as regulations call for features such as smarter airbags and tire-pressure sensors while customers endorse offerings such as adaptive cruise control. As these features augment antilock braking and other existing safety systems, design techniques are beginning to shift.

Most systems still exist as stand-alone features, with their own sensors and processors. Data are shared over networks, but little of that shared information is used for mission-critical jobs. The braking system controller may send information to other modules, but most have not yet transmitted unfiltered sensor data. That may soon change.