Volvo's V40 car features airbags for pedestrians

Assalamualaikum and greetings to readers. At this time,this blog will share about how Volvo think about the safety of pedestrian to in terms of accident.

Volvo has developed an external airbag on the front of its new 2013 V40 vehicle, designed to protect pedestrians in the event of an accident.

The car, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, features sensors in the front bumper that register physical contact between the car and the pedestrian. The rear end of the bonnet is released and elevated by the airbag as it inflates to cover the entire area under the raised bonnet as well as around a third of the windscreen. The raised, cushioned bonnet and airbag should help reduce the severity of pedestrian injuries. The airbag appears to be an iteration of an R&D project developed at Cranfield University in 2009. You can see a video of the airbag in action here.

The safety features in the V40 don't stop there. The car also has a lane keeping aid, which actively helps drivers to stay on course. According to Volvo's research, around 30 percent of all accidents are caused by veering off the road due to driver drowsiness or distraction. The forward-looking camera monitors the left and right lane markings and then the lane keeping aid applies extra steering torque to the steering wheel when the car gets close to a lane marking and is about to leave the lane at speeds above 65 km per hour.

The car also has pedestrian detection to assess if a pedestrian steps out into the road in front of a car. If the driver doesn't respond in time, the car can warn and automatically activate the brakes. The system employs a radar unit in the car's grille and a camera fitted in front of the interior rear-view mirror. The radar determines whether something is in front of the car and the camera determines whether it is a person. The system is programmed to trace a pedestrian's pattern of movement and calculate whether they are likely to step into the road in front of the car. If a pedestrian does step into the car's path, an alarm will go off and a light will start to flash. If the driver doesn't react, full braking power is applied automatically.

An enhanced blind spot information system uses radar to sense vehicles approaching the car from up to 70 metres away. Warnings are then displayed in LED indicators on each side of the car. If the driver starts to indicate as if to change lane when there is a car detected in the blind spot, the LED indicators will start to flash to alert the driver that it is not safe to move.

The car also features a tool called "cross traffic alert" to warn the driver about any vehicles approaching from the side when reversing out of a parking space and a tool that displays road signs -- such as the speed limit -- on the in-car display.

Other in-car technologies include a "city safety" system that automatically brakes if the car in front slows or stops, seatbelt pretensioners and an airbag for the knees to protect the legs in case of frontal collision.

Volvo takes pride in its safety features, so it was particularly embarrassing when Wired.co.uk captured the collision detection system on its V60 vehicle failing in Sweden in 2010. The car ended up crashing in front of the world's media.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-03/12/volvo-airbags-pedestrians

Volvo Introduces Multiple New Advanced Safety Features

Assalamualaikum wbt and greetings to all.Its like we are doing a marathon of article in this blog.Do enjoy yourself in reading it. =)

Volvo's new S40 even has an airbag for pedestrians. (Volvo)

When most drivers think of Volvo, we’d imagine that safety is one of the first things that comes to mind of many. And that’s probably an expectation that’s well deserved, since Volvo has always made safety the centerpiece of their automobiles.

Last year, the company debuted the first true pedestrian detection system. They’ve also been working with the same technologies to detect wildlife, such as deer and even domestic animals and pets, well before they’re spotted by the driver.

Advanced safety systems don’t simply lead to lower car insurance premiums. They do something more significant than just saving us a few bucks each month, since thesesafety features actually save lives.

Volvo is calling their new V40 “the most IntelliSafe Volvo so far.” While we’re not exactly taken with the hokey marketing term “IntelliSafe” we do think the V40 offers a glance at what drivers can expect to see become mainstream safety technology in future new cars from multiple manufacturers in the next decade.

“Volvo is leading the development of spearhead technology that helps the driver avoid collisions. All the features are designed around the driver, helping him or her to stay alert and well informed to avoid collisions and dangerous situations,” says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor Volvo Car Corporation. “The all-new V40 is the first car in our model range with technology that actively helps the driver steer clear of danger.”

Let’s take a quick look at some of the safety features Volvo has shoehorned into this new model:

Active High Beams/Bending Lights

Tired of having to switch from high to low beams manually? The Volvo V40 handles the task for you, offering automatic switching between high and low beam at the right moment.

The system utilizes a forward-facing camera and computerized image processing that will monitor the headlights and tail laps of other vehicles, and automatically switches between high and low beams, offering a driver the best possible visibility at night.

The headlamps on the V40 also swivel to follow the curves and bends of the road, a technology Volvo calls “Active Bending Lights.” The windshield detects rain, and automatically starts and regulates the wipers when there’s a downpour or a sprinkle.

Collision Warning/Automatic Braking

Volvo looks to remove the consequences of being distracted with its collision warning system. It’s estimated that as many as 90 percent of all accidents have distracted drivers as a primary cause, and half of all rear end collisions have a driver who never touched their brakes prior to the collision.

If the V40 detects that a collision is possible, it’ll warn the driver. If the driver fails to act, the car will apply the brakes itself, with full braking power. This isn’t the first Volvo with the collision warning system, but it now operates at much higher speeds that previous versions.

Driver Alert Control

According to Volvo, a full twenty-five percent of all accidents that take place on German Autobahns involves driver fatigue, and in Sweden, 30 percent of all accidents are caused by tired drivers.

Thus, the V40 includes Driver Alert Control, which is designed to detect and warn tired drivers. The system also can determine if a driver is being distracted. The system includes a camera, sensors and a control unit to continuously measures the distance between the car and the road lane markings.

Pedestrian Detection/Pedestrian Airbag

We’ve discussed the pedestrian detection system as developed and brought to market by Volvo earlier. Now, not only can the car detect a pedestrian, but it also features the world’s first airbag just for pedestrians.

Sensors in the front bumper register the physical contact between the car and the pedestrian. The rear end of the bonnet is released and at the same time elevated by the deploying airbag.

The inflated airbag covers the area under the raised bonnet plus approximately one third of the windscreen area and the lower part of the A-pillar. The raised bonnet and airbag will help reduce the severity of pedestrian injuries.

Road Sign Information

The Volvo V40 can not simply detect road signs – it even knows what they say. Using a front-facing camera, this system can detect if you’re in a “no passing” zone, and even if you’re exceeding the posted speed limit, giving the driver a visual warning in the speedometer if the speed limit is exceeded.

http://www.carinsurance.org/2012/03/volvo-introduces-multiple-new-advanced-safety-features-308/ 

Volvo S60/V70/XC70 - New safety functions in Volvo cars

Assalamualaikum wbt and greetings to all readers...We shall continue with safety features in Volvo. • BLIS – Blind Spot Information System – a world-first in a passenger car • WRG – Water Repellent Glass – improves visibility when driving in the rain • Cut-off switch for front passenger airbag At the start of the year, Volvo Cars presented four safety systems that will be launched in the company’s car models over the forthcoming period. One of them was BLIS – Blind Spot Information System – which was unveiled on the Volvo stand at the Detroit motor show. “BLIS is now ready to be demonstrated in road-going cars,” says Lex Kerssemakers, Vice President, Global Marketing. In addition to BLIS, Volvo Cars is also launching water-repellent glass for side windows and door mirrors – along with a simple and dependable method for switching off the front passenger airbag in Volvo cars.

BLIS – Blind Spot Information System Despite large window panels and effective door mirrors, there is always the risk of offset rear blind spots while driving. This can increase the risk of accidents, especially when changing lanes or overtaking. In order to improve safety in such situations, Volvo Cars started fitting wide-angle door mirrors for the driver’s side already back in 1979 – the first car maker to do so. Now the company is taking visibility one step further with a camera-based monitoring system that keeps a watchful eye on the area alongside and offset rear behind the car. When another vehicle enters this zone, a warning lamp comes on beside the appropriate door mirror (see photo, left). The driver is thus given an indication that there is another vehicle very close to his or her own. The system alerts the driver both to cars approaching from behind and cars that have currently been overtaken. This information gives the driver added scope for making the right decisions in such situations. The technology behind BLIS A digital camera is installed on each door mirror and it takes 25 pictures each second. By comparing the pictures taken, the system can register when a vehicle is moving within the BLIS zone, which measures 9.5 metres long by 3 metres wide on either side of the car.   [DSA note:  In the USA, etc., read yards for metres -- it's close enough.]  The system is programmed to identify cars as well as motorcycles, in daylight as well as at night. Since BLIS is camera-based, however, it has the same limitations as the human eye does. This means the system will not function in conditions of poor visibility, for instance in fog or flying snow. In such a case, the driver receives a message that BLIS is not in action. It is also configured not to react to parked cars, road barriers, lampposts and other static objects. The system is active at all speeds above 10 km/h. It reacts to vehicles that are driven a maximum of 20 km/h slower and a maximum of 70 km/h faster than the car itself. BLIS can be switched off via a button in the centre console. WRG – Water Repellent Glass In order to improve safety when driving in the rain, Volvo Cars is launching WRG – Water Repellent Glass – for door mirrors and front side windows. WRG prevents rainwater from obstructing visibility. On the windows, the water gathers as pearls of moisture which blow away easily by the wind speed, leaving a dry glass panel with unobstructed visibility. Since it is more difficult for dirt to fasten on dry surfaces, it is also easier to keep the windows clean and free of ice. WRG treatment requires that the windows be laminated. On the door mirrors, a different method is used. Here, the water is distributed evenly across the entire glass surface so that it is possible to see through the water. In certain weather conditions, the function can be speeded up if the mirror heater elements are activated. The water repellent function has been created through special treatment of the glass. On the side windows, the treatment must be renewed after about three years and then every year after that in order to ensure full effect. The door mirrors do not need to be re-treated since they are not as exposed to wear and tear. PACOS – Passenger Airbag Cut-Off Switch The findings of Volvo’s safety research are clear: • Children should ride in the rear seat • The safety equipment that is used should be tailored to suit the child’s size • Small children should travel in a rear-facing child seat, preferably in the rear of the car • If a child is placed in the front seat, it is essential that the car is not fitted with a front passenger airbag, or that this airbag is disconnected. Now it is possible for the Volvo owner to disconnect the front passenger airbag using the ignition key. The lock is integrated into the end of the instrument panel. Disconnection is confirmed by a physical marker on the lock itself and with a text that appears in the interior rear-view display. http://www.driveandstayalive.com/info%20section/news/individual%20news%20articles/x_040525_new-safety-features-in-volvo-cars.htm

1978 child safety booster cushion

1978 child safety booster cushion

The Beginning of Modern Child Safety
The impetus for modern child safety was born in Sweden 1963. The first rear-facing child safety seat was designed by Bertil Aldman of Chalmers University in Gothenburg, Sweden. While watching an American TV program, Aldman noticed the position of the astronauts in the Gemini space capsule. By lying on their backs, in opposite direction to the force of acceleration, they were better able to withstand the acceleration. Professor Aldman believed that this principle could be applied to protect a child in the event of a head-on collision.

Volvo mirrors Professor Aldman's belief, further adding that children are best protected during the first three years of life by facing rearward in the car seat.

                                                                                                 sample image

Auxiliary Seats for Volvo wagons were launched in 1972. In 1978 Volvo introduced a Booster Cushion. The Integrated Child Booster Seat in the middle of the rear seat was first offered in 1991. Each of these features continues as part of Volvo's child safety program. Always striving to improve child safety, Volvo introduced unique safety systems into the design of its XC90 to further protect young passengers in the rear most seats.

1975 braking system with stepped bore master cylinder

1975 braking system with stepped bore master cylinder

                                                                        sample image


It is now several years since most passenger vehicles were provided with a dual circuit braking system. The increased safety which has been obtained by this, has the disadvantage of extra pedal movement and increased pedal force which is then required when one circuit has broken down. Besides the deterioration in braking performance it can give the driver a shock. By replacing the tandem cylinder of conventional type hitherto used with a new type, these disadvantages have practically been eliminated. (http://papers.sae.org/750385/)

                                                                          sample figure

A new type of master cylinder called a stepped-bore type. As indicated in Workbook No. 1, the two circuits in Volvo's triangular split braking system are jointly served by the same master cylinder. If one brake circuit fails, about 80% of full braking power is provided by the remaining circuit.

In the transition from operating on both circuits to only one circuit, there is a change that drivers will feel during an emergency situation. This change is the increased length of pedal travel plus the increase in pedal pressure necessary to brake -- due to the drainage of brake fluid from the damaged circuit.

The stepped-bore master cylinder eliminates much of the feel of these transitional changes. It provides the same braking power and about the same brake pedal travel even if one brake circuit is entirely empty of fluid. Experiencing an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel in traffic can make you grow a little older real fast!

A vacuum pump is installed to provide additional air pressure for the power-assisted brakes. Located on the left side of the engine block, this pump provides vacuum to the vacuum brake cylinder (also called power brake booster). A round, flat rubber piece (called a diaphragm) inside the pump provides the pressure. Repairs to this pump are made using a diaphragm repair kit and, if needed, an internal valve kit. (http://www.164club.org/wb2/wb21_pt2.htm)

Pedestrian Detection With Auto Brake

Assalamualaikum wbt and greetings to all readers...
To continue our topic about safety features by Volvo,here are some information regarding to this post title "Pedestrian Detection With Auto Brake"

Advancing beyond the City Safety system's purely laser-based system, Pedestrian Detection with full auto braking uses a combination of radar and video footage, interpreted by a central control unit. A sensor in the grille up front detects objects, then relies on a camera mounted behind the windshield—up out of the way and hidden behind the rearview mirror—to determine what those objects are and where they are moving. It has been trained to identify humans in particular, using a set of size and movement parameters. Children as short as two feet, seven inches tall will be picked up by the camera/radar team. 

In addition to Pedestrian Detection, the S60’s new system also integrates all the benefits of City Safety, detecting other cars and preventing accidents up to 18 mph. Volvo claims that over 90 percent of all road accidents are related to some distraction, and that half of all those accidents happen without the driver so much as touching the brake pedal. With the 2011 S60, Volvo looks ready to start shaking up the statistics. In the US, 11 percent of fatalities in traffic accidents are pedestrians. In Europe, that percentage is 14, while in China, it’s a staggering 26 percent.

Source from : http://www.swedespeed.com/news/publish/Features/article_1768.html