Volvo Safety Concept Car makes driving that much safer
After launching three new car models in 2000 - Volvo Cars is now taking a major step further into the future.
The main theme of the Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC) is "superior vision". However, the car also employs a variety of technologies that enhance personal security and improve passive safety systems.
SCC thus points the way to a new dimension in research and development into car safety.
The Volvo Safety Concept Car is a vision of the developments in safety that car buyers can enjoy in the future. It is also evidence that Volvo Cars and Ford Motor Company are at the very leading edge in the development of technology for safer driving.
"With the quick pace of technological development, we are constantly gaining access to smaller yet more powerful computers, new sensors and so on. Volvo's approach is to utilise the breakthroughs in an intelligent and sensible way. We combine advanced electronics with new materials and new mechanical design solutions to create customer benefits. One example of this is the Volvo SCC and its unique enhanced all-round visibility," says Hans Gustavsson, head of purchasing and product development at Volvo Cars.
Helen Petrauskas, safety manager at the Ford Motor Company, continues:
"More than 90 percent of all important information to the driver comes in the form of visual input through the car's windows and windscreen. If we improve the quality of this visual information, we will also improve the driver's ability to make the right decisions in difficult situations, thus avoiding collisions."
Built for the eye
That is why the forward-thinking Volvo Safety Concept Car is built for the eye. Not merely in terms of aesthetic appearances and lines pleasing to the eye, but rather because the car has been designed around the driver's eye to ensure better vision and visibility.
When the driver gets into the seat, a sensor identifies the location of his or her eye. The seat then automatically adjusts to suit the position of the eye so that the driver gains the best possible field of vision. Once this is done, the floor, pedals, steering wheel and centre console including the gear lever all move to ensure that all the controls are within convenient reach.
The driver thus enjoys the best overview over what is happening both outside the car and in the instrument panel.
Number one in safety
The Volvo SCC is the result of close cooperation between Volvo Cars (appointed as the Ford's Center of Excellence for Safety) and the parent company, the Ford Motor Company. The car, which was designed at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center in California, displays advances in several research and development projects in the fields of safety and security. It clearly highlights the spearhead competence and the resources that the company has at its command.
"It is our goal to remain the world leaders in the field of automotive safety. With the SCC, we're showing that we have the resources to do just that," continues Ford's Helen Petrauskas.
Curved B-posts
The Volvo SCC has a number of additional functions that improve visibility:
· The driver can see through the windscreen's supporting pillars - the A-posts - owing to a metal box construction combined with see-through Plexiglas. The B-posts - the pillars between the front and rear doors - curve inwards following the contours of the seat frame to offer an unobstructed field of vision to the offset rear.
· A radar unit measures the distance to traffic at the rear and to vehicles alongside the car, and alerts the driver to vehicles in the offset rear "blind spot".
· In addition, rearward-facing cameras integrated into the door mirrors can show the driver what is in the blind spot.
· The headlight beams adapt to the road, for example by directing the beam in the direction that the driver is turning at a crossroads or in a curve.
· An infrared light enhancer boosts nighttime vision beyond the reach of the headlights.
· A forward-facing camera monitors the position of the car on the road and alerts the driver if there is any tendency to veer off course.
· The brake lights flash to alert following traffic in harsh brake application.
Increased crash safety and personal security
In addition, the Volvo SCC features a number of exciting features in the areas of active driving safety, crash protection and personal security.
· Together with the car's B-posts, the front seat frames form a safety cage that is at least as effective in roll-over accidents and side-impact collisions as conventional B-posts are.
· The car has two different types of 4-point safety belt: the X4 Criss Cross Belt and a conventional 3-point belt that is supplemented with an additional diagonal chest belt. This V4 Centre Buckle Belt is a new 4-point safety harness that has a centrally positioned buckle and shoulder straps that form a "V" across the chest.
· The rear seat has two electrically adjustable seat cushions whose height can be steplessly altered to give children the most comfortable and the safest seating position, irrespective of their height.
· At the front of a car there is a cowl bag - a concealed external airbag that inflates to give pedestrians and cyclists added protection in the event of a collision.
The remote control unit becomes a communication centre
The remote control unit has been developed into the Volvo Personal Communicator (VPC), and it has a number of new features:
· A fingerprint sensor personalises the remote control unit.
· The driver only has to grasp the door handle to unlock the door - and the car can be started without a key.
· The VPC transmits the driver's personal setting parameters to the car, which automatically makes the necessary adjustments to the driver's seat, steering wheel, pedals and so on.
· The system can even be pre-programmed with a number of destinations so that the navigation instrument is preset at the same time as the driver unlocks the door.
· A heartbeat sensor registers both human and animal heartbeats when the car is parked. The sensor is activated if anyone breaks into the car and hides inside it - or if a child or pet is left inside by mistake.
· If the driver is more than 100 metres from the car, the VPC can still transmit this information - via a cellphone. It is also possible to transfer information from a PC or hand-held computer.
Two types of 4-point safety belt
In order to hold the car's occupants in place even more securely in the event of a roll-over accident or other multi-sequential crash scenario, different types of innovative safety belt design are being tested. Since the 3-point safety belt is already today the single most important safety-enhancing feature in a car, it is important to assess whether other types of restraining device, such as the 4-point harness, would provide an even higher safety level.
The Volvo SCC is therefore fitted with two different prototype 4-point safety harnesses that engineers at Volvo Cars, the Ford Research Laboratory and TRW are currently evaluating and developing jointly: a crossover harness (CrissCross - X4) and a brace-type system (Centre Buckle - V4).
- The X4 CrissCross harness is a conventional 3-point safety belt that is supplemented with a retractable diagonal chest-belt that goes from the shoulder to the hip. The regular 3-point safety belt is put on first, followed by the additional chest-belt. Since the system forms a cross-brace across the chest, the shoulders are located securely so that the occupant is kept more firmly in place if the car rolls over or is hit from the side. The cross-brace across the seat occupant's chest also helps distribute incoming crash forces across the breast-cage more uniformly.
- The Centre Buckle V4 belt is similar to the harness used in competition cars and for child seats. The belt retracts into the seat's frame when not in use. The upper attachment points are located near the seat occupant's shoulders and the lower anchorages are on the left and right of the hips. The belt, which is V-shaped, is worn over the shoulders like backpack straps once the occupant is in the seat, and is fastened conveniently with a buckle across the pelvis and hips. The belt secures the shoulders to effectively hold the body in position in a roll-over accident.
The locks in both belt types are equipped with sensors that indicate if the belts are not properly locked in place.
Vertically adjustable rear seat
Child comfort in the rear seat is a matter of vital safety. One precondition dictating whether child safety equipment is actually used is that it must be comfortable and convenient - for children and parents alike. That is why the child-safety equipment in the Volvo SCC focuses as much on comfort and ease of use as it does on providing crash safety.
Today's generation of rear seats is designed for adults and modified to suit children. In the Volvo SCC, Volvo Cars approaches the matter from the opposite direction and presents a rear seat that is designed first and foremost for children, while functioning perfectly well for adults too.
Both the seats in the rear of the SCC have electrically adjustable seat cushions that can be varied vertically. This is done so that the rear seat can be altered to suit all those children who have outgrown rearward-facing child seats. The seat cushion height is adjusted steplessly to exactly match the child's height, and with due attention to belt geometry, comfort and forward visibility. In order to provide comfortable legroom for smaller children too, the forward section of the cushion can be conveniently folded out of the way.
Protection system for vulnerable road-users
A car's design has crucial significance for the severity of injuries that a pedestrian or cyclist might suffer in a collision.
The front of the Volvo SCC has a rounded design without any sharp edges. This is done so as to reduce the accident victim's rotation in a collision, thus reducing the force of impact. The bonnet itself has a crumple zone featuring a large empty space between engine and bonnet panel - so that the pedestrian does not hit any solid components concealed just beneath the panel.
An external airbag at the joint between the bonnet and windscreen prevents the victim's head from striking the windscreen glass and the A-post. The airbag is activated by a sensor at the front of the bonnet and it remains inflated for a few seconds to extend the protective effect. The inflated airbag covers only the lower part of the windscreen. This is sufficient to provide the required protective effect without obstructing the driver's field of vision.
The car that catches the eye
The car driver's eyes play the main role in the bid to ensure ever-safer traffic.
The Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC) has therefore been equipped with a range of future-generation systems designed to give the driver increased control and better preconditions for making the right decisions in difficult traffic situations.
The interior of the SCC automatically adapts to the location of the driver's eyes and his or her body size, and advanced technology provides improved vision in every direction, both in daylight and when driving at night.
Roughly 90 percent of all vital driver information takes the form of visual input through the car's windscreen and windows. If the quality of this visual information improves, the driver also improves his or her chances of avoiding a collision. With its Safety Concept Car, the Volvo Car Corporation and Ford Motor Company are demonstrating the viability of the latest vision-enhancing safety technologies in cars of the future.
Fixed eye position
Sitting properly is very much a matter of safety. The concept car therefore has a range of advanced systems that help ensure a proper seating position.
The Volvo SCC automatically sets the appropriate seating position on the basis of the eyes' location, irrespective of individual build. Sensors scan the precise position of the driver's eyes and then adjust the driver's seat to offer optimum vision. After this, the steering wheel, floor, pedals and centre console are all adjusted to suit, promoting the best possible ergonomics and comfort. Naturally, the driver can fine-tune the various adjustments to suit individual tastes.
The entire system is based on a Volvo idea that has been further developed and implemented in a concept car, bringing together the expertise of researchers, engineers and designers from Volvo Cars and the Ford Motor Company. The system has also had considerable input from external suppliers such as Johnson Controls, Inc. (driver's seat, pedal-box/floor), Sarnoff (eye sensor based on video technology), BMG (capacitive eye position sensor that pinpoints the driver's head and calculates the position of the eyes on the basis of this data), Presta (steering column) and ItalDesign (who built the car).
Since the system also encompasses adjustments to the steering wheel, pedals and centre console, all the controls are always ideally positioned so that the driver has full control and the best possible conditions for responding to emergencies. A relaxed driving position also boosts comfort, so the driver can be more alert behind the wheel.
New design for the A-post and B-post
The Volvo SCC also offers a better field of vision owing to the redesigned A- and B-posts.
In the SCC, these posts are of a new design. The driver can see through the A-posts, which have been rendered partly transparent through the use of a steel box construction combined with see-through Plexiglas.
The B-posts curve inwards at the top to give the driver an unobstructed field of vision to the offset rear. In terms of passive safety, these B-posts are at least as safe as conventional B-posts in a roll-over or side-impact scenario since they are integrated with the front seat frames.
Active rear-view mirrors and rearward-facing cameras
Embedded in the door mirrors and rear bumper are sensors that alert the driver of approaching traffic in the "blind spot" to the offset rear.
The driver is alerted via visual signals in the door mirrors or a combination of visual and acoustic signals as the situation becomes more dangerous.
There are also rearward-facing cameras to supplement the door mirrors. When necessary, the driver can view information from the cameras located in the door mirrors on both sides of the car, and this information is relayed in the form of video pictures to a display monitor in the instrument panel.
A camera in the roof bar at the rear shows the area to the rear of the car and also provides good visibility to the rear when the interior luggage compartment is loaded all the way up to the roof. Another camera points downwards to help the driver see if for instance a small child is concealed just behind the car when reversing. When the driver engages reverse gear, the display monitor automatically shows the area immediately behind the car.
Adaptive lights
The headlamps monitor the car's road speed and steering wheel movements and adjust the lighting to suit progress:
· When driving at high speed, on a highway or motorway, the light beam can be given a longer reach.
· When driving at low speeds, for example in the city or when approaching a crossroads, the light beam can be made shorter and broader to light up a larger area close to the car.
· When the driver steers the car into a curve, the beam can be directed along the track of the curve to light up the entire road as the car changes direction.
Traditional bulbs have been replaced with fibre optic technology. The light itself is generated by a light engine located elsewhere in the car, and is led to the headlamps via fibre optic cables. This makes it possible to alter light intensity and beam patterns at lightning speed in response to changing conditions.
The new headlamps have been produced in close cooperation with lighting experts Hella.
Enhanced night vision
In order to improve safety when driving at night, the car is equipped with an infrared (IR) light enhancer. IR technology gives the driver both a longer and a broader field of vision in the dark. The system, which further boosts night-vision capability, has been developed by Swedish safety experts Autoliv.
When driving at night, a black and white image is projected onto a glass display located at the top of the instrument panel. This image shows what is concealed in the area that is not lit up by the headlights, for example if there is a wild animal in the ditch alongside the road. It is also possible to see what is hidden in the blacked-out area between the SCC's own headlights and the usually dazzling lights of an oncoming vehicle, such as a pedestrian without reflectors on his or her clothing.
When driving in daylight, the glass display is retracted so it does not disturb the driver.
Collision warning sensor
The SCC also features a collision warning device that senses if the distance to the car in front is too short or the gap is closing too fast. In this case, the driver is alerted with a red warning signal, and there is also the option of an acoustic signal.
Remain in lane...or change lanes
Forward-facing cameras monitor the position of the car in relation to the road's centre-marker and side-marker lines 20 metres ahead of the car. If the car shows signs of veering to either side without activation of the turn indicators, the driver is alerted via an acoustic signal.
The rearward-facing cameras give the driver a view of what is going on behind the car. In addition, there is a radar unit that measures the distance to the traffic behind the car and its speed in relation to that of the Volvo SCC.
At a specific distance, or if traffic approaching from the rear is in the blind spot, the driver is alerted via yellow LEDs that glow in the rear-view mirror. If the driver still activates the turn signal indicator in preparation for changing lanes, an additional warning is given in the form of an acoustic signal and red LEDs in the rear-view mirror.
Flashing brake lights
If the driver has to brake particularly firmly, the SCC's brake lights start flashing to alert following traffic. The system automatically selects the flashing mode when the brakes are applied severely. Cognitive studies show that the human eye finds it easier to observe pulsating light, which in turn may reduce the risk of a rear-end collision. In this context, however, it should be noted that flashing brake lights are still forbidden by law in many countries.
The Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC) elevates technology to a new dimension to help protect the driver and his or her property.
The remote control unit has evolved into a portable communication centre which interacts intelligently with the car to help enhance security and comfort.
The remote control becomes a communication centre
The remote control unit, which has been developed into a Volvo Personal Communicator (VPC), is the basis for the personal security system and is an example of the way in which Bluetooth technology can be harnessed in future-generation cars.
The VPC has been developed in cooperation between Volvo Cars and Swedish companies Fingerprint, Combitech and Humpf Design, and it marks the evolution of the remote control unit into a keyless vehicle system. The system makes it possible to unlock and start the car, for instance, without the need to activate the remote control unit.
The car and remote control unit communicate automatically - with or without the driver's involvement - and the car can be individualised with a range of personal settings. The car recognises the remote control unit and sets itself up accordingly.
Passive unlocking and starting
All the driver has to do to unlock the door is to grasp the door handle. The car sends a signal to the VPC which the driver is carrying. The VPC transmits the remote control unit's identity code - and if this is correct, the door is unlocked.
At the same time as the car is unlocked, two-way communication is started between the VPC and the car, after which the car's settings are automatically adjusted to suit the driver's predetermined requirements.
The technology also permits passive starting without a key. The driver only needs to turn a rotary control to start up the engine.
The foremost benefit is that the time between unlocking the car and driving off is shorter - offering increased personal security if the car is parked in an unpleasant environment.
When the driver leaves the car, the relevant data is transmitted to the remote control unit: the personal settings, lock and alarm status and so on. This gives the driver control over the car even from a distance; for example, it is possible to check via the remote control unit's display that the car really is locked.
Personal settings
The VPC is personalised via a built-in fingerprint sensor. After that, it can be programmed with a variety of personal settings, for example if only the driver's door or additional doors should be unlocked, individual settings for the driver's seat, steering wheel, pedals, rear-view mirrors and so on.
The VPC can also be pre-programmed with different destinations so that the driver does not need to set the navigation system before driving off - the settings are already completed when the door is unlocked.
Communication through telematics
In this personal communication between car and remote control, the driver can also add certain health-related data (information about allergies to medicines, heart problems and so on). This information is transferred to the car's telematic system and in the event of an accident, it is also conveyed to the emergency response services. In this way, rescue personnel can have direct access to medical information already while they are on the way to the scene of the accident, which can lead to quicker, more efficient and more reliable treatment.
The telematic system that is found in the SCC is a further development of Volvo On Call (which in the USA goes under the name of Volvo On Call Plus). Joint studies by the Ford Research Laboratory and Volvo Cars have shown that it is possible to increase the amount of important information that is sent from the car to the alarm centre in the event of an accident. This information includes pictures taken by cameras located inside the car.
The enhanced On Call system also automatically notes how many people are in the car at the time of an accident, where they were sitting, how many of them were using the safety belt and the type of accident in which the car was involved. The system will even, to a certain extent, be able to provide feedback on the actual collision force to which the occupants were subjected.
Reads fingerprints
The Volvo Personal Communicator has even more areas of use, however. Here are a few examples:
Personal settings can be pre-programmed in the car or in the VPC, making it possible to change them from a distance.
The identity of the VPC unit is changed if another authorised user presses his or her finger against the fingerprint sensor. The settings are then altered to suit the parameters selected by this particular user, which makes it possible for several persons in a family to use the same VPC unit. This brings benefits in terms of both safety and comfort.
Volvo has chosen to place the fingerprint sensor in the remote control unit so as to separate the driver physically from the car while still offering full functionality. The fingerprint sensor is therefore not connected to unlocking or starting of the car. This minimises the risk of hostage-taking in an attempted theft. In a threatening situation, all the driver has to do is to hand over the remote control, which then functions like a conventional car key.
The VPC can also be placed in a setup offering limited functionality - so-called valet mode. In this mode, no personal settings are transferred to the car. Instead, the car adopts a standard setup at the same time as the luggage compartment and glove compartment remain locked. However, the car itself can still be unlocked, started and driven. Practical and secure when handing over the car to a hotel's valet parking service or the workshop for service.
Heartbeat sensor warns if anyone is inside the car
The heartbeat sensor registers the sound of a beating heart - both human and animal. The sensor is activated if for instance a sleeping child has been left in the child seat and the driver locks the door. A signal is transmitted to the remote control unit, which alerts the driver via a combination of audible signals and vibration pulses.
The heartbeat sensor is also activated if anyone enters the car and hides inside. In such a case, the driver is not alerted automatically; instead, he or she must manually request this information within a distance of 100 metres from the car.
If the sensor is activated, the remote control unit transmits a quiet signal so that the driver can withdraw without being detected, so as to avoid a more threatening situation. The alternative is for the driver to press the "Panic" button, which deploys the car alarm to scare off the intruder.
The system has been integrated with the car in a joint development operation between engineers from Volvo Cars and the Ford Research Laboratory.
Checking the car
The so-called Check Car function is activated via a short press on the "Panic" button or via a menu selection. At the same time, other on-board information is also monitored, for instance whether the doors, sunroof and windows are locked.
Already existing functions such as activation of light sources inside and around the car (Approach Light) and illumination of the driveway (Home Safe Lighting) are carried over in the VPC system.
These functions are activated via buttons in the VPC unit's front panel. Opening the cover reveals additional buttons for customising the personal settings in the menu system, along with an information display.
Enhanced communication with the VPC via a cellphone
Two-way communication utilising Bluetooth technology makes it possible for the VPC to communicate with the car via a cellphone.
If Check Car is activated within a distance of 100 metres from the car, the VPC unit communicates directly with the car. If the driver is more than 100 metres away, the VPC can communicate with the car via the cellphone system.
When the driver leaves the car, all trip-related information and certain navigation system data are transmitted to the remote control unit. This makes it possible for the driver to use the VPC as an alarm clock, for instance. The remote control unit "knows" the distance to the destination, the current traffic situation, average speed, fuel consumption, remaining fuel quantity and so on, and it can be programmed so that it informs the driver when it is time to resume the journey in order to get to the destination at a given time - an excellent tool when stopping for a meal on a long journey.
Bluetooth technology also makes it possible to transmit information between the VPC and a PC or hand-held computer. This is an excellent tool for maintaining driving logs, journey planners, address books, E-mail addresses, data files and more.
