Adaptive Airbag Triggering Algorithm for Object-Related Injury Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, existing systems fail to effectively prevent injuries from objects thrown around during accidents, particularly when passengers are holding or interacting with objects that could be accelerated by airbag deployment, leading to potential harm from sharp or heavy objects.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that adapt the triggering algorithm of personal restraint devices, such as airbags, by reading object signals from interior compartment cameras or sensors to assess the risk of objects in the vehicle and modify the activation threshold, suppressing airbag deployment when necessary to prevent injury from interacting objects, and deactivating accident prediction threshold lowering functions in non-severe scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag triggering threshold is lowered to improve accident detection sensitivity, then accidents can be recognized faster and more reliably, but the risk of injury from objects being accelerated by the airbag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of objects in the vehicle interior using cameras and sensors before an accident occurs. The object detection unit identifies the presence, position, and characteristics of objects in advance, allowing the system to prepare appropriate triggering thresholds. When an accident is detected, the system already has information about objects that could be harmful, enabling it to adjust the triggering threshold to prevent object acceleration while maintaining reliable accident recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag triggering threshold is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors object presence and adjusts the triggering threshold in real-time based on the detected object characteristics. If dangerous objects are detected in positions where they could be accelerated by airbag deployment, the system raises the triggering threshold or suppresses deployment. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain high reliability for accident recognition while adapting to prevent object-related injuries in each specific situation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the airbag triggering threshold is raised to prevent object acceleration injuries, then the risk of injury from objects is reduced, but the ability to recognize and respond to accidents faster is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different triggering thresholds to different airbags based on local object detection results. Instead of uniformly raising the threshold for all airbags, the system selectively adjusts thresholds only for airbags where objects are detected in harmful positions. This allows the system to maintain fast response speed for accidents where no objects are present while raising thresholds only where necessary to prevent object acceleration injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously to balance response speed and object safety. It adjusts not only the triggering threshold but also the evaluation criteria for object danger, the time window for object detection, and the suppression duration. By coordinating changes in these parameters, the system can raise thresholds to prevent object injuries while compensating for response speed through optimized detection and evaluation processes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If object detection and analysis systems are added to modify airbag triggering, then the ability to prevent object-related injuries is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multi-functional components that serve both existing and new purposes. The interior cameras and sensors originally designed for general vehicle monitoring are also used for object detection and analysis. The airbag control unit, already responsible for triggering decisions, is enhanced with object evaluation capabilities rather than adding a completely separate control system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing vehicle infrastructure to support object detection and analysis. The cameras and sensors are integrated into the vehicle's existing monitoring network, and the control unit leverages its existing processing capabilities to evaluate object data. By making the existing system serve the new object detection function, the patent avoids the complexity of entirely separate detection and control subsystems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for adapting a triggering algorithm of a personal restraint device of a vehicle is described. The method includes at least one step of reading in and a step of outputting. In the step of reading in, an object signal is read in that represents a recognition of a mobile object situated in the area of a person in the vehicle during a trip. In the step of outputting, a control signal is outputted that is designed to modify the triggering algorithm of the personal restraint device using the object signal.