A collision mitigation system makes use of ladar sensors to identify obstacles and to predict unavoidable collisions therewith, and a duplex radio link in communication with secondary vehicles, and a number of external airbags deployable under the control of an airbag control unit, to reduce the forces of impact on the host vehicle, secondary vehicles, and bipeds and quadrupeds wandering into the roadway. A suspension modification system makes use of ladar sensors to identify road hazards, and make adaptations to a number of active suspension components, each with the ability to absorb shock, elevate or lower the vehicle, and adjust the spring rate of the individual wheel suspensions.

A collision mitigation system makes use of ladar sensors to identify obstacles and to predict unavoidable collisions therewith, and a duplex radio link in communication with secondary vehicles, and a number of external airbags deployable under the control of an airbag control unit, to reduce the forces of impact on the host vehicle, secondary vehicles, and bipeds and quadrupeds wandering into the roadway. A suspension modification system makes use of ladar sensors to identify road hazards, and make adaptations to a number of active suspension components, each with the ability to absorb shock, elevate or lower the vehicle, and adjust the spring rate of the individual wheel suspensions.

A vehicle safety system implements a method for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a frontal collision. The method includes determining a passive safety crash mode classification in response to crash signals received in response to the occurrence of a crash event. The method also includes determining an active safety crash mode classification in response to active safety signals received prior to the occurrence of the crash event. The method also includes determining an active safety confidence factor for the active safety crash mode classification. The method also includes determining the weighted crash mode classification as being the active crash mode classification in response to the active safety confidence factor exceeding a predetermined confidence value. The method further includes determining the weighted crash mode classification as being the passive crash mode classification in response to the active safety confidence factor not exceeding the predetermined confidence value.

A vehicle safety system implements a method for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a frontal collision. The method includes determining a passive safety crash mode classification in response to crash signals received in response to the occurrence of a crash event. The method also includes determining an active safety crash mode classification in response to active safety signals received prior to the occurrence of the crash event. The method also includes determining an active safety confidence factor for the active safety crash mode classification. The method also includes determining the weighted crash mode classification as being the active crash mode classification in response to the active safety confidence factor exceeding a predetermined confidence value. The method further includes determining the weighted crash mode classification as being the passive crash mode classification in response to the active safety confidence factor not exceeding the predetermined confidence value.

A braking system for vehicles with collapsible actuation pedal may have an operating pedal operatively connected to a hydraulic pump having a delivery circuit fluidically connected to an accumulator device. The delivery circuit may have a hydraulic branch equipped with at least one normally closed control valve. The control valve may be connected to a control actuator which commands its opening when an impact or accident is detected by an appropriate detector or the control valve may be calibrated to open automatically when a limit pressure and/or flow rate value is reached in the hydraulic branch following the lowering of the actuation pedal.

A braking system for vehicles with collapsible actuation pedal may have an operating pedal operatively connected to a hydraulic pump having a delivery circuit fluidically connected to an accumulator device. The delivery circuit may have a hydraulic branch equipped with at least one normally closed control valve. The control valve may be connected to a control actuator which commands its opening when an impact or accident is detected by an appropriate detector or the control valve may be calibrated to open automatically when a limit pressure and/or flow rate value is reached in the hydraulic branch following the lowering of the actuation pedal.

A method for controlling door motions of a controllable door of a motor vehicle, wherein a control device and a sensor arrangement are assigned to the door, and the door includes a controllable motion influencing device. A motion of a door wing of the door can be controlled and influenced by the motion influencing device to alternate between a closed position and an open position. The sensor arrangement includes a surround sensor and monitors the surroundings of the door. The control device captures the signals from the sensor arrangement and evaluates the movement of an object in the surroundings of the door relative to the door and actively moves the door wing of the door, to prevent a collision with the object or to reduce its effects.

A method for controlling door motions of a controllable door of a motor vehicle, wherein a control device and a sensor arrangement are assigned to the door, and the door includes a controllable motion influencing device. A motion of a door wing of the door can be controlled and influenced by the motion influencing device to alternate between a closed position and an open position. The sensor arrangement includes a surround sensor and monitors the surroundings of the door. The control device captures the signals from the sensor arrangement and evaluates the movement of an object in the surroundings of the door relative to the door and actively moves the door wing of the door, to prevent a collision with the object or to reduce its effects.

A vehicle and control method include: a seat; an image acquirer to acquire an image of the seat; a first type of roof airbag module in a fixed position in a first area of a headlining; a rail member in a second area of the headlining in a left-right direction of a vehicle body; a second type of roof airbag module in the rail member and movable in left and right directions along the rail member; an angle detector to detect a rotation angle of the seat; and a controller. The controller identifies the seat rotation angle based on the image of the seat and controls activation of at least the first type of roof airbag module or the second type of roof airbag module based on at least the seat rotation angle based on the image of the seat or detected by the angle detector.

A crash sensor device may include multiple sensor components positioned along one or more data paths to a communication interface of the crash sensor device. The crash sensor device may include a test control unit. The test control unit may receive a test command from an electronic control unit during operation of a vehicle. The test control unit may perform a test of one or more sensor components, of the multiple sensor components, during operation of the vehicle based on the test command. The test control unit may output a test result to the electronic control unit based on performing the test.