ZF Lifetec has combined camera and sensor data to classify occupants, enabling adaptive and safety-optimized deployment of airbags and seatbelt systems.
Using advanced camera and sensor fusion, the system will identify and classify vehicle occupants in real time. This enables adaptive deployment of airbags and seatbelts tailored to individual seating positions and postures.
The importance of accurate occupation recognition
ZF Lifetec says that every vehicle occupant deserves the highest level of passive safety, and to meet this goal, restraint systems must adapt to different body types and seating positions. The company’s new solution uses the latest generation of algorithms to classify occupants by size, weight and seating posture, which enables adaptive control of airbags and seatbelt systems by integrating camera, seat and belt sensor data.
Adaptively adjusting restraint systems is a key step toward improving real-life safety, according to ZF Lifetec. “With the shift toward automated driving and the resulting redesign of vehicle interiors, adaptive restraint systems are becoming increasingly relevant,” said Harald Lutz, the company’s head of research and development. “Accurate occupant recognition is essential – it forms the basis for flexible, individualized safety architecture.”
Philipp Russ, who is responsible for occupant recognition at ZF Lifetec, added, “To enable targeted, software-driven adjustment of restraint systems, we use algorithms that reliably detect occupant properties.”
Occupant recognition functions
The system features precise detection of children and child seats to adjust airbag deployment, and seat occupancy recognition to provide reliable seatbelt warnings and support for emergency response chains. The system also provides alerts for incorrect seatbelt usage and occupant classification for customized restraint strategies. Additionally, it detects out-of-position seating and issues timely warnings or suppresses the activation of safety-critical systems.
With its new solution, ZF Lifetec aims to assist global OEMs in responding to the evolving Euro NCAP star rating criteria 2030.
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