ISS Strategy Helps Delphi Lead Safety Innovations

TROY, Mich., Sept. 7 -- Delphi Corp. is continuing to expand and enhance its Integrated Safety Systems (ISS) concept that features a seamless integration of various sophisticated safety technologies to help drivers avoid accidents and lessen the effects of accidents that can't be avoided.

Through the integration and consequent communication of different safety systems on vehicles, Delphi has broadened the definition of safety to encompass a wide spectrum of active and passive safety products, which will be highlighted at the 61st International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany on September 13.

Delphi ISS products range from collision warning systems to vehicle stabilization systems to safety restraints, driver assessment and much more.

In addition to introducing various new safety products, Delphi is also benefiting from its strategic acquisition of Dynamit Nobel AIS GmbH located in Stadeln, Germany. The company is also in the process of building a new crash test facility in Berlin.

Dynamit Nobel AIS GmbH Strategic Acquisition

Delphi acquired the intellectual property and substantially all of the assets of Dynamit Nobel AIS GmbH Automotive Ignition Systems a year ago. Dynamit Nobel, a designer and manufacturer of initiators, propellants, micro- gas generators (MGGs) and related products for the automotive industry has enabled Delphi to vertically integrate its line of occupant protection systems. This vertical integration helps position the company to create future innovations for airbags and other safety systems.

A new Delphi pyrotechnical battery disconnect safety device that helps reduce the risk of electrical fires caused by battery cable short circuits has already been developed at the facility. The new unit is priced up to 20 percent less than competitors'.

Delphi Plans Crash Test Facility

Delphi is also in the process of building a dynamic crash facility at the Delphi Technical Center in Berlin. The facility will be capable of accelerating vehicles with a mass of 3.5 t up to 80 km/h for full-scale barrier tests in two directions. The facility will also be capable of running car-to-car tests and a variety of side impact tests. The investment will increase Delphi's capability to provide full safety systems engineering support to its customer base. The facility will be operational in late 2005. In addition to this crash proving ground, Delphi has a hydraulic sled located in Wuppertal and complete air bag, steering wheel, and seat belt engineering and validation capability.

Delphi Introduces Infrared Side Alert System

Delphi is now offering its infrared side alert system designed to help drivers be more aware of vehicles in their side blind spots when changing lanes. When a moving vehicle is detected entering the side blind spot, a variety of driver warnings can be initiated. The warnings can be tuned based on Human Machine Interface preferences of the vehicle manufacturer.

The infrared side alert system is a low cost system that can be integrated into existing vehicle features like rear taillights, mirrors, cornering side marker lamps or the bumper fascia. Delphi's infrared system ignores stationary roadside objects to minimize false alarms. The Delphi infrared side-alert system monitors areas up to 3 meters laterally and 6 meters long based upon the mechanical mounting position and the optics defined for a field of view. The system works well in both daytime and nighttime and under adverse weather conditions.

Each Infrared Side Alert unit contains two passive infrared thermopile sensors that measure adjacent lane temperatures over time. Any significant change in the measurement between the two sensors indicates the presence of an object.

Delphi's Infrared Side Alert is part of Delphi's efforts to provide a "Cocoon of Safety" around the vehicle.

Delphi Offers Low-Risk Deployment Passenger Airbag with Mechanical Proximity

Delphi has also developed a low-risk deployment airbag that is based on Mechanical Proximity. Without the use of sophisticated electronics, the airbag can sense the occupant's position and the performance of the airbag module is tailored to the situation. The tailored performance reduces the risk of inflation-induced injuries for small occupants and out of position occupants. The low risk airbag also has the ability to provide energy absorption in some situations that might otherwise call for airbag suppression. This feature is expected to be in production in the 2008 model year.

First to Market with Dual-Depth Passenger Airbag

Delphi announced earlier this year that it will supply a new dual depth passenger airbag on two General Motors programs. The dual-depth airbag is one airbag that can deploy in a small or large size based on the seat position, seat belt use and crash severity. The bag's inflation energy is also adjusted at two different pressures according to crash severity. This technology represents the next generation of airbag technology because of its potential to help restrain a front-seat passenger in a greater variety of seating and crash situations. A conventional dual-stage airbag inflates to a single shape with different pressures. The dual-depth airbag is fully compatible with existing restraint electronics products and no architecture changes are required.

Delphi Offers New Passive Occupant Detection System to Complement OEM's Restraint Strategies

Delphi has added a Passive Occupant Detection System to its product offering that is designed to enhance the occupant classification capability at a lower overall system cost to the OEMs. The system uses proven automotive technologies to provide high-fidelity sensing to support a high degree of tailored restraint. The system is designed to meet various OEM safety strategy implementations and compliance with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208.