Delphi Safety System Debuts

PARIS--Delphi Automotive Systems’ Integrated Safety System (ISS) is an all-inclusive and vehicle-wide safety system design being introduced at the Mondial de l’Automobile 2000. ISS combines more than 50 Delphi safety technology offerings that assist in avoiding collisions, help provide protection to occupants and property, as well as mitigate the effects of a collision.

The ISS concept and a selection of corresponding technologies will be displayed at the Delphi booth on a concept vehicle.

“ISS represents an evolutionary step in onboard vehicle safety,” said James A. Bertrand, Delphi Interior Systems president. “ISS considers safety technologies within a complete vehicle framework architecture and is designed to help automakers broaden the traditional view of automotive safety.”

The concept behind ISS is to offer enhanced occupant protection throughout the entire continuum of the driving experience. Delphi’s ISS considers the driving experience through five distinct “safety states:” normal, warning, collision-avoidable, collision-unavoidable and post-event. Within all “states,” Delphi is developing or refining advanced preventative, occupant protection and pedestrian protection safety technologies, acording to the company.

The ISS vehicle on display represents a first step in showing Delphi’s ISS strategy. The focus of this vehicle is a presentation of both near- and long- term technologies, systems and sensors, and the integration strategies used to form multiple safety systems and features. These technologies and sophisticated sensors are used as the fundamental basis in the development of a variety of system features that have influence over multiple safety states. For example, the ISS concept vehicle will feature the following technologies and features associated with the normal and collision-unavoidable states.

Normal State Technologies

Workload Management System

Communiport Mobile Multi-Media System

Human-Machine Interface Features

Forewarn Adaptive Cruise Control Systems

Collision-Unavoidable State Technologies

Advanced Safety Interior

Active Knee Bolster

Motorized Seat Belt Pretensioner

Side Curtain Airbag (mounted in roof rail)

Seat Belt Hypertensioner

Low Mount Airbag

Power Adjustable Pedals

Occupant Characteristics Sensing/Tailoring

Passive Occupant Detection System (PODS)

Dynamic Occupant Sensing

Seat Belt Usage Sensor

Seat Belt Tension Sensor

Seat Track Position Sensor

In addition, this vehicle will offer other technologies that are also key to multiple safety states, including 12-node fiber optic communication, smart battery, controlled suspension and controlled brakes.

“Our complete systems approach helps reduce cost and lead-time for OEMs,” continued Bertrand. “Our experience in virtually all vehicle systems, coupled with our integration capabilities, will enable Delphi to coordinate simultaneous development of the various elements of ISS--leading to comprehensive, optimized safety solutions.”

Bertrand explained that ISS is not an “off-the-shelf” system. While the fully- realized vision of ISS includes the use of all 50 of Delphi’s safety technologies, OEMs--depending on program needs--may select only some of them. The more ISS technologies used, the more the system will help provide enhanced protection.

Delphi can be found on the Internet at www.delphiauto.com