Latest news with #VOLVOCARS
The Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Volvo introduces world-first multi-adaptive safety belt
VOLVO CARS has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in occupant protection technology with the debut of its multi-adaptive safety belt, set to launch in the fully electric Volvo EX60 in 2026. This new safety system is designed to provide tailored protection for vehicle occupants by using real-time data from the car's sophisticated sensor array, marking a major evolution of the original three-point safety belt first introduced by Volvo in 1959. Developed to address the diversity of human body types and the unpredictability of real-world collisions, the multi-adaptive safety belt responds dynamically to both individual occupant characteristics and the specifics of each crash scenario. Drawing input from both internal and external sensors, the system calibrates belt tension to suit variables such as a person's height, weight, body shape, and seating posture, as well as the angle and severity of a collision. The innovation lies in the belt's expanded use of load-limiting profiles, increasing the options from three to eleven. This significant leap enables the restraint system to apply a more precise level of force during an accident, balancing the need for secure restraint against the risk of injury from the belt itself. For example, in a serious collision involving a larger occupant, the system may apply a higher load threshold to reduce the chance of head trauma. Conversely, a smaller individual in a lower-impact crash would benefit from a lower load setting to reduce the likelihood of rib fractures. Volvo's ability to make such advancements is rooted in its extensive archive of safety data, comprising over 80,000 real-world accident cases and more than five decades of research. This empirical foundation underpins the Volvo Cars Safety Standard, a benchmark that often exceeds formal regulatory testing criteria. As part of its broader safety ecosystem, the new belt works in conjunction with existing in-car systems, including airbags, occupant monitoring, and driver assistance features. The integration ensures a cohesive response to crash events, providing layered protection and reducing the risk of secondary injuries. What further sets this system apart is its capacity for continuous improvement. Through over-the-air software updates, the safety belt's algorithms will evolve, learning from new data to refine their responses to emerging crash scenarios and more accurately assess the needs of different occupants. Volvo's Head of Safety Centre, Åsa Haglund, highlighted the significance of the innovation, describing it as a pivotal step in the company's mission to enhance traffic safety. She noted that by harnessing real-time data, the system represents a substantial upgrade to the original three-point safety belt—a device already credited with saving over a million lives. The development and testing of the multi-adaptive safety belt have taken place at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre crash laboratory in Gothenburg, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. This advanced testing facility allows engineers to simulate a wide array of crash scenarios, exceeding international standards in order to validate real-world safety effectiveness. Volvo's continued emphasis on occupant diversity and its use of comprehensive data ensures that its vehicles offer protection that reflects the varied realities of everyday traffic. The introduction of the multi-adaptive safety belt is another example of the company's leadership in automotive safety and its commitment to safeguarding all passengers, not just meeting regulations, but anticipating the future of road safety.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Volvo introduces multi-adaptive safety belt for next-gen EX60 SUV
VOLVO CARS has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in occupant protection technology with the debut of its multi-adaptive safety belt, set to launch in the fully electric Volvo EX60 in 2026. This new safety system is designed to provide tailored protection for vehicle occupants by using real-time data from the car's sophisticated sensor array, marking a major evolution of the original three-point safety belt first introduced by Volvo in 1959. Developed to address the diversity of human body types and the unpredictability of real-world collisions, the multi-adaptive safety belt responds dynamically to both individual occupant characteristics and the specifics of each crash scenario. Drawing input from both internal and external sensors, the system calibrates belt tension to suit variables such as a person's height, weight, body shape, and seating posture, as well as the angle and severity of a collision. The innovation lies in the belt's expanded use of load-limiting profiles, increasing the options from three to eleven. This significant leap enables the restraint system to apply a more precise level of force during an accident, balancing the need for secure restraint against the risk of injury from the belt itself. For example, in a serious collision involving a larger occupant, the system may apply a higher load threshold to reduce the chance of head trauma. Conversely, a smaller individual in a lower-impact crash would benefit from a lower load setting to reduce the likelihood of rib fractures. Volvo's ability to make such advancements is rooted in its extensive archive of safety data, comprising over 80,000 real-world accident cases and more than five decades of research. This empirical foundation underpins the Volvo Cars Safety Standard, a benchmark that often exceeds formal regulatory testing criteria. As part of its broader safety ecosystem, the new belt works in conjunction with existing in-car systems, including airbags, occupant monitoring, and driver assistance features. The integration ensures a cohesive response to crash events, providing layered protection and reducing the risk of secondary injuries. What further sets this system apart is its capacity for continuous improvement. Through over-the-air software updates, the safety belt's algorithms will evolve, learning from new data to refine their responses to emerging crash scenarios and more accurately assess the needs of different occupants. Volvo's Head of Safety Centre, Åsa Haglund, highlighted the significance of the innovation, describing it as a pivotal step in the company's mission to enhance traffic safety. She noted that by harnessing real-time data, the system represents a substantial upgrade to the original three-point safety belt—a device already credited with saving over a million lives. The development and testing of the multi-adaptive safety belt have taken place at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre crash laboratory in Gothenburg, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. This advanced testing facility allows engineers to simulate a wide array of crash scenarios, exceeding international standards in order to validate real-world safety effectiveness. Volvo's continued emphasis on occupant diversity and its use of comprehensive data ensures that its vehicles offer protection that reflects the varied realities of everyday traffic. The introduction of the multi-adaptive safety belt is another example of the company's leadership in automotive safety and its commitment to safeguarding all passengers, not just meeting regulations, but anticipating the future of road safety.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Volvo Leads Android Auto with Google, Adds Gemini AI
VOLVO CARS and Alphabet's Google said on Wednesday the Swedish carmaker was now the lead development partner for Android automotive software, which should give its buyers access to new versions long before they are available via car industry rivals. 'We're going to be able to be fast in bringing new capabilities, new features and new experiences to our customers,' Alwin Bakkenes, Volvo's head of global software engineering, told Reuters. 'This really gives us an edge in building fantastic customer experiences.' The two companies have been working together for a decade, but the deeper partnership means Google engineers will drive Volvo cars with the latest software to 'experience how their product behaves in a real context much earlier and much faster', Bakkenes said. He said on average the auto industry was about two Android releases behind mobile phones, which 'means things you can do on your mobile phone, in many cases you cannot do in the car'. Volvo vehicles currently operate using Android 13, but at Google's I/O annual developer conference underway in Mountain View, California, the two companies are demonstrating Volvo's flagship EX90 electric SUV running on Android 15 - the latest version of Google's mobile operating system - which will roll out in production models later this year. 'Others might have to wait two years to get' that latest version of Android, Bakkenes said. At the I/O conference the two companies also demonstrated Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model running in the EX90, which Volvo is going to roll out to cars with Google built-in. Bakkenes said rather than drivers having to search through their phones for their destination, they can ask Gemini to search their emails or messages for it. Or drivers can, for instance, ask Gemini to find recipes and then put a shopping list on their phone to create 'a human-centric experience', Bakkenes said.
