The Data-Based Research That Helps Volvo Develop Innovative Safety Features
Posted by admin at 26 June 2023, at 06 : 41 AM
When anyone thinks of an innovative car company, Tesla is often the first to come to mind. But when you look at some of the things Volvo has said more closely, it’s no longer as clear cut. The Swedish automaker has some pretty outlandish ideas. And even many years into making its bold statements, the rest of the industry is still playing catch-up.
Volvo has a long history of being a pioneer in car safety, dating back to 1959 when they introduced the three-point seat belt, which is now standard in every car. Since then, they have continued to innovate and improve their safety systems, using data from real-world crashes and simulations to design and test new features.
In the 1980s, Volvo built its vehicles like tanks. It installed heavy frames and found ways to mechanically protect passengers from impacts.
Since then, the company has become more sophisticated. It’s now building cars with improved safety systems and using data from real-world crashes and simulations to test new features.
Perhaps the biggest example of this in action was Volvo’s insane Vision 2020 projects. The goal was to eliminate all serious injuries in the company’s vehicles by that year. Despite going against branding, the firm said it didn’t want people to associate its cars with death, forcing the company to evaluate how its cars perform in crashes and protect passengers.
As the deadline approached, Volvo became more data-centric. The company collected and analyzed data from over 40,000 crashes involving their cars, as well as data from sensors and cameras installed in their cars that monitor driver behavior and road conditions. The idea was to figure out precisely what was causing people to get involved in accidents, and how it could be prevented.
Morris Bart DUI lawyer teams know that the matter isn’t as simple as this, though. The problem is that human drivers also make bad decisions. It doesn’t matter how much data you analyze or how clever you make on-board systems, other drivers can still make mistakes that cause injuries and death.
Just take the case of drunk driving. People do it all the time, and it’s unclear how manufacturers like Volvo are going to solve that problem.
With that said, Volvo has developed numerous technologies to help it combat accidents. For instance, the company now operates:-
* City Safety is a camera that can detect cyclists, pedestrians, and other road users, and automatically apply the brakes if it believes an accident is likely.
* Pilot Assist is a form of adaptive cruise control that makes it easier for vehicles to remain within their respective lanes.
* Run-off road protection helps correct the orientation of the vehicle if it believes the driver has fallen asleep at the wheel. It can also activate airbags and tighten seatbelts in anticipation of a crash.
* The blind spot information system uses various sensors to detect vehicles in the car’s blind spot and warn drivers with a light on the side mirror and sound alert.
As technology advances, Volvo’s approach will become more nuanced. Autonomous technology will reduce the remaining risk of injury. While the car company got pretty close to its Vision 2020, it didn’t achieve it on time.