Trends in Crash Detection and Occupant Restraint Technology

In the past two decades, occupant restraint systems for automobiles have made considerable progress globally. There has been a tremendous increase in the complexity and sophistication of functional requirements. Particularly significant in the overall evolution of restraint systems is the growth in electronics content, which is concurrent with similar phenomena in the automotive world, as well as in many other technology-related fields. In conjunction with this trend, the shift to digital components and subsystems expanded, while the design of restraint systems has become more diversified with enhanced adaptability and flexibility. In addition to the airbags that are standardized for passenger vehicles, there has been a whole spectrum of emerging safety features that provide additional safety improvements. For example, rollover and occupant sensing are being added onto an integrated occupant protection system. Global positioning systems are coupled with crash sensors into emergency notification services. Increasingly, vehicles are now being equipped with active safety systems. The availability of both passive restraints and active safety functions will allow an additional layer of synergistic integration across safety systems. Research and developments in vehicular safety can be expected to remain active in the foreseeable future. This paper describes the system-level design trends that have occurred in the past and offers a perspective of future design transition in automotive restraint systems