Next Generation of Sensing with Autoliv

With face-to-face seating arrangements, long-track passenger seats and new types of chairs with a large inclination angle, vehicle interior design has been constantly changing. Different driving situations, such as off-roading or dynamic driving, will all provide a challenge for the proper activation of active seatbelts and airbags.

Autoliv is seeking novel sensor technologies to monitor driver’s and passenger’s head, chest, body, and shoulder position for optimizing the deployment of active seatbelt and airbags. Cabin sensing systems that employ cameras to monitor driver weariness, drowsiness, and inattention are currently in use at Autoliv, but they may be improved even further with modern sensor technology. These could include but are not limited to technologies like radars, cameras, acceleration sensors and other passive safety system concepts.

For example, knowing the position of a traveller, an active seatbelt can ensure the stable driving body position. In the case of a crash being inevitable, on the other hand, an active seatbelt with a precisely adjusted airbag explosion positioning assures the best kind of crash positioning to save lives.

This project provides the potential for a disruptive change, starting on a very fundamental level, but with the outlook towards a large-scale industrialization. Because of the safety function in a car, Autoliv spans know-how from very deep sensor and safety system knowledge up to large scale industrial manufacturing. Hence, we also have extensive resources in product development.

An interested startup or scaleup must be able to demonstrate fundamental innovation capability and build the vision to scale up to large series production as well as make a no-compromise product. As Autoliv currently produces safety components to tens of millions vehicles per year, a fully scaled solution is a huge opportunity for a successful provider. After a successful feasibility phase to ensure our requirements are met, we target to enter the market within 2-3 years.