Restraint system for self-driving cars
A master thesis at Autoliv resulted in a seat belt concept for self-driving cars that is comfortable and safe. A human-centered design process was used in the development of the restraint system. An extensive user study was conducted to make sure that the developed restraint system fulfilled the comfort needs of the users while being safe in the event of a crash.
Early concepts
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Reclined seat buckle concept
A concept that prevents the seat belt from moving too far up on the stomach when reclining the seat. In the event of a crash, the pelvic bone should take the load of the lap belt - not the stomach.
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Anti-belly belt concept
It’s not preferable to wear the lap belt over the stomach due to safety issues. The risk of wearing a lap belt like this should decrease by putting on the belt from the front instead of from the side.
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Cushion support concept
This is a concept where an armature rises to the top of the seat cushion just before a crash so that the seat becomes stiff. This has been proven to increase safety in the event of a crash.
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Anti-slouch band concept
Slouching increases the risk of injury during a crash. To prevent slouching, a rolling band in the seat cushion forces the user into a safe position when slouching has been detected.