An apparatus for controlling alcohol interlock includes a sensor that senses an environment of a driver's seat and a camera that obtains a face image of a passenger and an image of exhalation of the passenger. A controller activates a start lock mode of a vehicle and determines whether a condition for detecting components of the exhalation of the passenger is satisfied based on the environment of the driver's seat. The controller determines whether the exhalation of the passenger is exhalation of a driver based on the face image of the passenger and the image of the exhalation of the passenger, and determines whether to detect alcohol concentration in the exhalation of the passenger based on the determination result.

Devices, systems and processes for the detection of unsafe cabin conditions that provides a safer passenger experience in autonomous vehicles are described. One example method for enhancing passenger safety includes capturing at least a set of images of one or more passengers in the vehicle, determining, based on the set of images, the occurrence of an unsafe activity in an interior of the vehicle, performing, using a neural network, a classification of the unsafe activity, and performing, based on the classification, one or more responsive actions.

A system for detecting seatbelt routing includes: a state module configured to, based on a series of images over a period of time from a camera of a vehicle facing a seat, determine and output a routing state of a seatbelt of the seat; and a remediation module configured to, based on the routing state of the seatbelt of the seat, selectively perform at least one remedial action.

A seatbelt ignition interlock system. The system includes a plurality of sensor devices each including a housing, a latch configured to removably engage the latch receiver of a vehicle seatbelt system, a latch receiver configured to receive and removably engage the latch of the vehicle seatbelt system, a latch sensor, a temperature sensor, and a power source. Each sensor device is in electrical communication with a vehicle ignition interlock circuit, and the vehicle ignition interlock circuit is in electrical communication with an ignition of a vehicle. The vehicle ignition interlock circuit is configured to prevent the vehicle ignition from being started when a combination of temperature sensors and latch sensors determine that occupied seats have unfastened seatbelts.

A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.

An occupant restraint system in a self-driving vehicle, in particular a robot taxi, for customer transport, wherein the occupant restraint system provides to the customer a restraint system that can be activated by the customer to be transported, and the occupant restraint system has an analysis unit via which a check is made in a safety check as to whether or not the restraint function is activated by the customer to be transported. The analysis unit prevents the vehicle from driving if an activated restraint function is absent. A diagnostic module, with which a functional diagnostic of the functionality of the occupant restraint system can be carried out independently of the safety check, is associated with the analysis unit. In the event that a fault is present, the diagnostic module initiates a suitable service action to remedy the fault.

Devices, systems and processes for the detection of unsafe cabin conditions that provides a safer passenger experience in autonomous vehicles are described. One example method for enhancing passenger safety includes capturing at least a set of images of one or more passengers in the vehicle, determining, based on the set of images, the occurrence of an unsafe activity in an interior of the vehicle, performing, using a neural network, a classification of the unsafe activity, and performing, based on the classification, one or more responsive actions.

A driver identification seatbelt system including a seatbelt system having at least one first belt with a first coupling member, and a second coupling member. The driver identification seatbelt system further including a fingerprint recognition member.

A vehicle safety system includes a vehicle that has a plurality of seats, a plurality of seat belts, an electrical system and an ignition. Each of the seat belts includes a buckle and a clasp. A plurality of buckle sensors is provided and each of the buckle sensors is coupled to the buckle on an associated one of the seat belts. Each of the buckle sensors senses when the clasp of the associated seat belt is engaged to the buckle of the associated seat belt. A plurality of weight sensors is provided and each of the weight sensors is coupled to an associated one of the seats to sense weight of an occupant in the associated seat. A shut down unit is coupled to the vehicle. The shut down unit is in electrical communication with each of the seat belt sensors, each of the weight sensors and the ignition. The shut down unit turns the ignition off when any of the weight sensors senses an occupant in an associated of the seats and the buckle sensor corresponding to the associated seat does not sense the seat belt of the associated seat is fastened.

A seat belt routing sensing system for a seat belt of a vehicle is provided. The seat belt includes a latch plate. The seat belt routing sensing system includes a seat belt buckle mounting assembly and a sensor. The seat belt buckle mounting assembly includes a first bracket or a first strap. The first bracket or the first strap is configured to connect to a seat belt buckle. The sensor is attached directly or indirectly to the first bracket, the first strap, or the seat belt buckle and is configured to detect changes in a parameter. The changes are indicative of (i) at least one of a bending moment, a force, an angular position, or an angular movement of the first bracket or first strap, and (ii) routing of the seat belt.