When cars 'intentionally' do not deploy airbags

OCS technology in cars will recognize whether the person sitting in the front passenger seat is a child or an adult and decide whether to deploy the airbag or not.

Airbags inflate at a speed of about 320 km/h, combined with the volume of inflated gas inside, becoming small bombs or thunderous punches that hit the passengers in the face. This is part of the reason for deaths or head, neck, and spinal injuries caused by airbags, mostly for children.

Children can die from airbag deployment. >> Watch video

To prevent the "side effects" of airbags, safety regulators in countries around the world require car manufacturers to install a system that detects when a child or small adult is sitting in the passenger seat, then the airbags will not be activated and only protected by the seat belt.

This technology has a different name for each manufacturer, but is commonly known as the Occupant Classification System (OCS). To better understand the "no airbag deployment" technology, Howstuffworks analyzes the structure of this system on the car, provided by the automotive technology and parts company Delphi.

Delphin calls it the Passive Occupant Detection System (PODS). The system is located under the seat and consists of a pressure sensor, a silicone pump bag and an ECU controller. When someone sits on the seat, the sensor sends weight information to the ECU, then the ECU sends information to the controller, where analysis takes place to decide whether to deploy or not.

In addition to the weight sensor, OCS also has a seat belt tension sensor to determine whether the child in the seat is wearing a seat belt or simply placing a heavy object on the seat. When analyzing the data, a signal light will appear on the dashboard to let the driver know whether the passenger airbag is on or off. The airbag is also controlled to deploy at maximum or moderate speed depending on the size of the occupant.

OCS technology sensors and ECUs.

Although OCS detects occupants, car manufacturers say it is not yet optimal technology because all analysis is based on physical quantification. Many manufacturers are researching and developing more optimal technology, using cameras to read optical images of occupants to capture the most accurate information. Many cars even have seats that can read heart rate and breathing to see the health status of the user.

But this technology doesn’t always work. Because it doesn’t use cameras to read images, changes in posture can cause the car to make the wrong decision. Because of this risk of accident, each company’s safety recommendations emphasize children or short, small people sitting in the back seat.

According to VNE