Project promises safer restraint systems

Research and development project aims to advance groundbreaking automotive safety technology known as real-time restraint control.

TNO Automotive Safety Solutions (TASS), a world leader in transport safety solutions, has launched a new research and development project to advance groundbreaking automotive safety technology, known as real-time restraint control.

This innovative new technology is expected to not only to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on the roads but also decrease the number of less severe injuries that often result in high societal costs.

Real-time restraint control can significantly affect occupant kinematics during a crash, providing dedicated protection for vehicle occupants in any crash condition, unlike passive restraint systems (seatbelts and airbags), which are optimised for a limited range of impacts.

Sensors fitted within vehicles register the size, weight and shape of an occupant.

The loading on the seat belt and position of the airbag are also measured and the algorithm within the vehicle's onboard ECU uses this information to determine how hard the seat belt should be pulled and how quickly the airbag should be deployed and vented.

These personalised performance modifications are calculated in real-time to provide the occupant with maximum protection at minimal risk.

John Cooper, CEO, TASS, says: "Developments in automotive safety regulations mean that the industry is being asked to focus on the reduction of 'expensive' injuries as well as saving lives".

"Governments worldwide have set ambitious targets for injury and fatality reduction in traffic accidents by the year 2010, which are also expected to drive up vehicle regulations standards".

"Current restraint systems save lives, future systems can also further reduce the number of expensive injuries".

Statistics show that the integration of active and passive safety systems is one of the most effective ways to improve road safety.

Active systems that anticipate and prevent dangerous situations, such as pre-crash sensing, active braking and occupant monitoring, are already being installed in new vehicles.

In order to determine the design requirements and to evaluate the added value and performance of integrated safety systems, TASS has developed an efficient and cost-effective methodology for integrated safety design, based on detailed analysis of real accidents.

TASS's integrated safety design methodology uses a combination of numerical simulation and smart testing to determine how manufacturers can implement integrated safety in an affordable way.

Cooper says: "TASS is currently in talks with several automotive manufacturers and suppliers to discuss their commitment to developing active safety systems".

"Partnering with other automotive experts and pooling industry knowledge, experience and resource will help us to develop real-time restraints as efficiently and effectively as possible".

"New technology can be expensive and, once available, often takes time to become an essential consumer requirement so the quicker we can make this life-saving technology available and affordable, the better".

Cooper concludes: "TASS provides customer-focused and cost effective solutions for occupant safety design, developing new safety systems, often before their customers know they need them".

"Real-time restraint control will provide real world protection to real world occupants".

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