Using seat mounted accelerometers to differentiate between normally seated passengers and infants in infant seats.

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