Accelerometer Based Devices for Detecting the Presence and Seating Posture/Position of Vehicle Occupants

A study was undertaken to determine whether a combination of seat and floorpan mounted accelerometers could be used to discriminate between different seating situations including empty seats, normally seated occupants, severely out-of-position occupants, and infants/children in infant/child seats. This successful research study involved road testing over a limited range of passenger, roadway, and operating conditions. An example is given of how information from such an accelerometer based detection scheme could be incorporated in SIR controller logic trees.