Volvo has found a way to modernize the familiar seat belt

Volvo has announced an upgrade to the traditional three-point seat belt, which was introduced in 1959. The new adaptive belt adjusts the tension force in the event of an accident depending on the physical parameters of the person and the circumstances of the collision, the Swedish manufacturer said on June 5.

Volvo noted that modern seat belts have three versions of the tension force during a collision. The adaptive belt has increased the number of load profiles to 11.

So, unlike traditional systems, the new belt uses data from different on-board sensors of the car. In less than an instant, the system receives data with the circumstances of the collision from the car, as well as the position of the passenger at a particular moment, and sends this information to the seat belt. Based on this data, the system selects the most appropriate setting.

The system takes into account height, weight, body shape and seat position. For example, in a serious accident, a high-tension setting will be used for a larger passenger to reduce the risk of head injury. In case of a minor accident, the belt load on a person with a small body weight will be lower to reduce the risk of rib fractures.

Volvo said that the technology will first appear on the new electric crossover EX60 in 2026. It is planned that the system will be improved through online updates.

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