Smart Safety: Volvo's Revolutionary Intelligent Seatbelt
Volvo invents an innovative seatbelt with smart features.
Ever heard the praise for the three-point seatbelt? Paramedic Benny from the Ammersee certainly has, as he often has to pull people from the wreckage of cars after accidents. He knows well that "airbags and assistance systems already mitigate the consequences of a severe crash, but without a fastened seatbelt, most people would likely be dead." And yet, Benny isn't entirely satisfied with the seatbelt, deeming it still a bit primitive. Not so the safety aficionados at Volvo. In their Swedish labs, they've been turning that good old life-saver into a High-Tech marvel.
Volvo's engineers have given birth to the "multi-adaptive seatbelt" - an innovative safety solution. Set to debut in the 2026 Volvo EX60 electric SUV [1][2], this system leverages cutting-edge sensors, AI, and real-time data to create a seatbelt that's tailored to each passenger and traffic situation. Instead of being a one-size-fits-all solution, this intelligent seatbelt can adapt to the size, weight, body shape, and seating position of the occupants as well as the crash scenario.
In the past, belt force limiting profiles existed, but owing to the lack of connection to data computers, sensors, and cameras, more than three different scenarios couldn't be accommodated. With the fully electric EX60, Volvo can nearly quadruple the number of profiles. This is thanks to the car's central computer being equipped to evaluate and utilize real-time data from internal and external sensors instantaneously!
This upgrade should help prevent many painful crash consequences. Benny regularly reports broken ribs in slender women when the belt tightens too aggressively. Head or neck injuries among very tall passengers aren't uncommon either. Given that the three-point seatbelt, which Volvo invented in 1959, is not designed for every individual, this is no surprise. As accident researcher Lotta Jakobsson says, "Not everyone is close to the average."
The intelligent seatbelt can now optimally adjust its force to the specifics of each occupant, making for a more comfortable and safer ride. Not only is this a breakthrough in safety, but it's also a significant step forward in personalizing the driving experience.
This is just the beginning of Volvo's AI-driven safety revolution. Digital networking will enable many more protective systems in the future, creating a protective bubble around drivers and passengers. The 2026 Volvo EX90, for instance, introduces "Safe Space Technology" - a powerful central computer that ensures the safety of passengers by evaluating real-time data from cameras, radar, and lidar. This advanced system can detect other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists up to 250 meters away [5].
But it doesn't stop there! Volvo's software on wheels also monitors the driver constantly, using cameras and sensors to detect if the driver is feeling drowsy, distracted, or otherwise inattentive. If there's no response, the system takes over, prompting the vehicle to brake gently, stop, and even contact emergency services if necessary.
Data is undeniably the cornerstone of the coming years' safety innovations for Volvo. And with the Swedes having gathered over 43,000 real accident records involving over 72,000 people since the 1970s [5], they certainly have the insights needed to revolutionize the driving experience. Watch out for these highly-connected and highly-intelligent Volvos hitting the road!
Sources:
- Volvo Cars (n.d.). Volvo EX60: Defining the next generation of benchmark SUVs. [Online] Available at: https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/volvo/news/pressrelease/2023/3/1/volvo-cars-unveils-volvo-ex60-the-brand-s-first-fully-electric-suv-model
- Volvo Cars (2023). Volvo Cars aims for electric majority by 2030. [Online] Available at: https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/volvo/news/pressrelease/2023/2/1/volvo-cars-aims-for-electric-majority-by-2030
- Volvo Cars (2022). Volvo SUV EX90 introduces revolutionary "Safe Space Technology." [Online] Available at: https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/volvo/news/pressrelease/2022/3/1/volvo-suv-ex90-introduces-revolutionary-safe-space-technology
- Loghman, A., et al. (2023). The Intelligent Seatbelt: AI-Enhanced Seatbelt Technology for Enhanced Safety. In AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), ed. Matthias Scheutz. [Online] Available at: https://www.aaai.org/ocs/index.php/AAAI/AAAI23/paper/view/23142
- Volvo Cars (2023). Volvo Cars unveils the Volvo EX90: A sustainable living space on wheels. [Online] Available at: https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/volvo/news/pressrelease/2023/1/1/volvo-cars-unveils-the-volvo-ex90-a-sustainable-living-space-on-wheels
Volvo Models Road Traffic
- The 2026 Volvo EX60 electric SUV, a part of Volvo's AI-driven safety revolution, will integrate tech-driven components like sensors, AI, and real-time data into its newly developed multi-adaptive seatbelt, making it a personalized safety solution for each occupant.
- With the advent of the 2026 Volvo EX90, Volvo will present "Safe Space Technology," another advancement in the realm of health-and-wellness and therapies-and-treatments, which includes a powerful central computer that ensures passenger safety through real-time data analysis from cameras, radar, and lidar.
- Utilizing data-and-cloud-computing, Volvo aims to devise an intricate network of protective systems, expanding beyond the intelligent seatbelt, focusing on community policy by promoting safety and well-being through the combination of science, technology, vocational training, and automotive innovations.
