Systems, apparatus and methods implemented in algorithms, software, firmware, logic, or circuitry may be configured to process data and sensory input to determine whether an object external to an autonomous vehicle (e.g., another vehicle, a pedestrian, a bicyclist, etc.) may be a potential collision threat to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may include a light emitter positioned external to a surface of the autonomous vehicle and being configured to implement a visual alert by emitting light from the light emitter. Data representing a light pattern may be received by the light emitter and the light emitted by the display may be indicative of the light pattern. The light pattern may be selected to gain the attention of the object (e.g., a pedestrian, a driver of a car, a bicyclists, etc.) in order to avoid the potential collision or to alert the object to the presence of the autonomous vehicle.

Systems, apparatus and methods implemented in algorithms, software, firmware, logic, or circuitry may be configured to process data and sensory input to determine whether an object external to an autonomous vehicle (e.g., another vehicle, a pedestrian, a bicyclist, etc.) may be a potential collision threat to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may include a light emitter positioned external to a surface of the autonomous vehicle and being configured to implement a visual alert by emitting light from the light emitter. Data representing a light pattern may be received by the light emitter and the light emitted by the display may be indicative of the light pattern. The light pattern may be selected to gain the attention of the object (e.g., a pedestrian, a driver of a car, a bicyclists, etc.) in order to avoid the potential collision or to alert the object to the presence of the autonomous vehicle.

A vehicle airbag device includes: an inflator configured to generate gas when a first squib and a second squib are fired, respectively; an airbag including a main bag portion configured to inflate and deploy between an occupant seated in a passenger seat and an instrument panel and between the occupant and a windshield when the gas generated by the inflator is supplied into the airbag, and a center bag portion configured to project between the passenger seat and a driver seat from the main bag portion; and a controlling portion configured to control the inflator such that, when a head-on collision occurs, the second squib is fired after the first squib is fired, and when an oblique collision occurs, the second squib is fired after the first squib is fired and at a timing earlier than that when the head-on collision occurs.

A vehicle airbag device includes: an inflator configured to generate gas when a first squib and a second squib are fired, respectively; an airbag including a main bag portion configured to inflate and deploy between an occupant seated in a passenger seat and an instrument panel and between the occupant and a windshield when the gas generated by the inflator is supplied into the airbag, and a center bag portion configured to project between the passenger seat and a driver seat from the main bag portion; and a controlling portion configured to control the inflator such that, when a head-on collision occurs, the second squib is fired after the first squib is fired, and when an oblique collision occurs, the second squib is fired after the first squib is fired and at a timing earlier than that when the head-on collision occurs.

A device for the detection of an at least partial flooding of a motor vehicle. The device includes an ultrasonic sensor that is designed to transmit and to receive ultrasonic signals. The device also includes an electronic recognition device, which can recognize an at least partial flooding of the motor vehicle on the basis of an ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic sensor. The recognition device is designed to determine the amplitudes of ultrasonic signals received within a defined time window, and to compare the amplitudes to a defined threshold value. The recognition device is designed to detect a flooding of the ultrasonic sensor as a function of the result of the comparison.

A device for the detection of an at least partial flooding of a motor vehicle. The device includes an ultrasonic sensor that is designed to transmit and to receive ultrasonic signals. The device also includes an electronic recognition device, which can recognize an at least partial flooding of the motor vehicle on the basis of an ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic sensor. The recognition device is designed to determine the amplitudes of ultrasonic signals received within a defined time window, and to compare the amplitudes to a defined threshold value. The recognition device is designed to detect a flooding of the ultrasonic sensor as a function of the result of the comparison.

A vehicle safety system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle seat includes a seatbelt extensible around the occupant to help restrain the occupant in the vehicle seat. The seatbelt includes a lap belt configured to extend across the occupant at the hips. An airbag is secured to the lap belt and configured to inflate and deploy upward from the lap belt to a deployed position in front of the occupant. The system is configured to adjust the deployed position of the airbag in response to the position of the occupant.

A vehicle safety system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle seat includes a seatbelt extensible around the occupant to help restrain the occupant in the vehicle seat. The seatbelt includes a lap belt configured to extend across the occupant at the hips. An airbag is secured to the lap belt and configured to inflate and deploy upward from the lap belt to a deployed position in front of the occupant. The system is configured to adjust the deployed position of the airbag in response to the position of the occupant.

A vehicle occupant protection control device includes: a seat state detector configured to detect directions of first and second seats inside a vehicle; and a vehicle occupant protection controller configured to open at least one of a first bag body that is opened on a first side in a width direction of the first seat and a second bag body that is opened on a second side diagonal to the first side in a width direction of the second seat in a state in which the first seat faces the second seat when the seat state detector detects that the first seat faces the second seat and an impact on the vehicle is detected or predicted. A first vehicle occupant sitting on the first seat is pressed on the second side in accordance with the opening of the first bag body or a second vehicle occupant sitting on the second seat is pressed on the first side in accordance with the opening of the second bag body.

A method for a seat belt system (10) in a vehicle (14), the seat belt system (10) comprising a control unit (36) and at least one seat belt (18) with an extendable webbing (20) and a webbing extension measuring device (30), includes the steps of: a) determining whether a vehicle seat (16) is occupied, b) determining whether the webbing (20) is in a storage position, if the vehicle seat (16) is not occupied, and c) outputting a warning signal, in particular via an output device (34), if the webbing (20) is not in the storage position.

Moreover, the invention provides a seat belt system (10) for a vehicle (14) comprising an extendable seat belt (17, 18) as well as a vehicle (14) comprising a seat belt system (10).