Delphi Develops Passenger Occupant Detection System for Jaguar
28 September 2000
Delphi Develops Commercial Passenger Occupant Detection System for Jaguar
PARIS, Sept. 28 Delphi Automotive Systems
announced today at the Mondial de l'Automobile 2000 that it is supplying its
smart occupant passenger detection system for Jaguar. The Delphi PODS
(Passive Occupant Detection System) is the first and only weight-sensing
system of its kind to reach the market with its unique features and functions.
It is being introduced as standard equipment on the 2001 Jaguar XK sports car
series Adaptive Restraint Technology System (ARTS). The PODS technology
enables vehicle manufacturers to improve the effectiveness of airbag
protection through smart deployment or suppression of the passenger's airbag.
"This is truly a market 'game changer' which represents an entirely new
safety segment in the vehicle component industry," said Dave Wohleen,
president of Delphi's Electronics and Mobile Communications Sector, and Delphi
executive vice president. PODS technology joins a distinguished list of
earlier safety innovations like airbags, anti-lock brakes and smart seat
restraints."
The Delphi PODS technology consists of a bladder-based weight-sensing
technology mounted under the passenger seat cushion. Using sophisticated
occupant classification algorithms and extensive signal processing, it allows
the vehicle airbag controller to variably deploy or suppress the passenger
airbag. Designed to measure the occupants loading force on the vehicle's
seat, the system classifies the occupant according to weight, and provides the
information to the airbag controller based on the occupant's characteristics,
an important factor in determining whether, and to what extent, the airbag
should be deployed. Also, some repair cost-savings are achieved with vehicles
equipped with the PODS technology since the passenger airbag is designed to
not deploy when the passenger seat is empty.
Unlike systems with manual on/off switches, the passive system requires no
interaction or involvement by the driver or passengers to achieve the
appropriate deployment decision. In addition, the system is nearly universal
to all seat types without affecting seat crashworthiness.
With numerous patents granted and others pending, the Delphi PODS
technology consists of a silicone fluid-filled bladder weight system, produced
by American Components Inc. (ACI) of Dandridge, Tennessee, a pressure sensor
mounted under the seat cushion, and an electronics control unit for sensor
data processing. Delphi and ACI have done extensive work to apply the bladder
technology for lumbar supports in seats for specific bladder designs for the
PODS technologies. Delphi altered and adapted its existing expertise in
making pressure sensors for the sensor used on the system. The company
produces millions of pressure sensors a year that have received worldwide
acceptance as the industry standard.
"Providing an intelligent electronics solution has put us ahead of our
competition and will enhance our opportunities for future business growth in
this segment," Wohleen said. "Making efficient use of our experience, along
with a non-evasive integration design, has given Delphi an early opportunity
to set the standard in this new market."
Delphi works with seat manufacturers as well as vehicle systems suppliers
and vehicle manufacturers to integrate the PODS system into their individual
vehicle architectures. For example, in the case of the Jaguar ARTS, the
Delphi system is integrated with another supplier's ultrasonic sensing system
to provide additional passenger positioning measurements. While the
ultrasonic sensors constantly monitor the presence and position of the front
passenger, the PODS system detects the presence and approximate seated weight
of the occupant. In other applications, PODS will be integrated with a seat
belt tension sensor to provide a compliant airbag suppression system to meet
the new federal guidelines.
Delphi made its first production air cushion restraint in 1974 for General
Motors, which offered it as an option on certain Cadillac, Buick and
Oldsmobile models.
Occupant-sensing products are anticipated to exceed $3.6 billion in new
revenue opportunities for automotive suppliers by 2006, according to Strategy
Analytics Ltd. (Automotive System Demand report, September 2000). The report
forecasts that the systems will grow at a 70 percent compound annual growth
rate over the next six years.
In addition, the Delphi weight-based system is a critical component of an
advanced airbag system which vehicle-makers must implement to meet the recent
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 that was announced
in May. The advanced airbag ruling requires manufacturers to make airbags
more effective for a broader weight-range of occupants than previously
required for vehicles sold in the United States. Beginning in 2004, thirty-
five percent of each manufacturer's fleet sold in the United States must be
equipped with advanced airbag systems and the number increases to nearly 100
percent by 2006. The Delphi seat-based sensor determines whether to suppress
or allow passenger airbag deployment based on the passenger's weight or is
designed to suppress the system entirely if the seat is empty.