Adient and Autoliv have co-developed safety solutions designed to enhance occupant protection in deeply reclined seating positions – commonly referred to as zero-gravity. These solutions combine Adient’s latest seating concept, Z-Guard, with Autoliv’s advanced safety technologies and are ready for mass production.
Full-process dynamic safety system
Adient’s Z-Guard delivers full-process occupant protection through intelligent seat, restraint and predictive safety technologies. It is built around Multi-Dimensional Collaborative Protection, integrating advanced constraint and energy-absorbing technologies into a dynamic safety system designed to protect occupants in the event of a collision.
At its core are two key innovations. First is an active cushion collapse mechanism which, in a crash, rapidly collapses the seat frame to absorb energy and adjust posture, thereby reducing spinal impact and providing protection to vital body regions.
The second innovation is the adjustable seatbelt outlet. This feature adapts to various passenger postures and body types, enhancing comfort while maximizing precise restraint and minimizing risks like shoulder slippage.
Autoliv’s integrated seatbelt system for improved stability, dynamic lumbar retractor for controlled restraint force, pelvic cushion airbag to reduce pelvic impact and head side airbag for enhanced side collision protection in reclined positions also feature in the new solutions.
Proactive predictive protection
The Z-Guard concept enables deep integration with vehicle driver assistance systems, tailored to OEM requirements and real-world scenarios. Leveraging predictive signals, it uses high-speed, motor-driven seat repositioning to adjust the occupant’s posture before a collision to reduce the risk of injury.
In cases where a vehicle cannot detect a crash in time or lacks active repositioning capabilities, Z-Guard protects using dual pretensioners, cushion buffering and a collapse mechanism. These systems work in concert to prevent forward movement and submarining, enhancing reliable safety even in zero-gravity seating positions.
In related news, Forvia secures seating comfort solutions deal with Hyundai-Kia
