Automotive occupant safety continues to evolve. At present this
area has gathered a strong consumer interest which the vehicle
manufacturers are tapping into with the introduction of many new
safety technologies.
Initially, individual passive devices and features such as
seatbelts, knee- bolsters, structural crush zones, airbags etc.,
were developed for to help save lives and minimize injuries in
accidents. Over the years, preventive measures such as improving
visibility, headlights, windshield wipers, tire traction etc., were
deployed to help reduce the probability of getting into an
accident. With tremendous new research and improvements in
electronics, we are at the stage of helping to actively avoid
accidents in certain situations as well as providing increased
protection to vehicle occupants and pedestrians.
In this paper, we will touch upon the concept of the
"safety state diagram,' which encompasses a host of
variables or "zones' such as; vehicle motion,
occupant-state and accident to post accident states. Highlights
include concepts such as pre-crash sensing, anticipatory crash
sensing, X-by-wire, advanced safety interiors, and smart safety
systems. Also, important to consider are the data networks and
vehicle system communications that connect all the safety
components to provide a seamless functionality at all stages of
vehicle and occupant "zones.'
One aspect of the "Accident Unavoidable Zone' will be
discussed in detail as it applies to occupant safety in a rollover
situation for example. Emphasis will be placed on developments in
sensor technologies, modeling and algorithms being developed to
address rollover detection, countermeasure deployment and occupant
protection applications.