Toyota and Safety · Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)...

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Toyota and Safety

Transcript of Toyota and Safety · Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)...

Page 1: Toyota and Safety · Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is an active safety system that automatically helps to control a vehicle when it

Toyota and Safety

Page 2: Toyota and Safety · Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is an active safety system that automatically helps to control a vehicle when it

INDEX

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SAFETY FIRST 2

Toyota’s Approach to Safety 2

TODAY for TOMORROW 3

A Shared Responsibility 4

From Practice to Theory and Back 4

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Active Safety 6

Passive Safety 6

UNDERSTANDING ACTIVE SAFETY 7

Stability Control: VSC & VDIM 7

Lane-Keeping Assist 8

Pre-Crash Safety 9

Adaptive Cruise Control 10

Blind-Corner Monitor & Parking Assist 10

IMPLEMENTING PASSIVE SAFETY 11

Minimising Whiplash: WIL 12

Virtual Human Body: THUMS 12

Airbags 13

Seatbelts 14

Pedestrian Safety 14

Child Safety 15

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TOYOTA & SAFETY TOYOTA & SAFETY

WHAT NEXT?

“DISCLAIMER: Please note that this brochure is for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer for sale of any particular vehicle or specifi cation and does not guarantee that all accidents or injuries will be avoided when driving a Toyota and/or Lexus brand motor vehicle equipped with the safety systems described herein. Furthermore, this brochure does not guarantee that each Toyota and/or Lexus brand motor vehicle is equipped with the safety systems described herein and owners should consult their vehicle manual for further information specifi c to their own vehicle.’’

Kaizen

“Continuous improvement.

As no process can ever be declared perfect,

there is always room for improvement.”

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SAFETY FIRSTMobility has come to play a major role in global economic growth, providing vital freedom of movement to millions of people every day. If automobiles are to continue to be accepted by society, one cannot ignore the environmental and safety consequences of their use. It is the duty of all stakeholders involved in the mobility equation to work toward a safer and cleaner driving environment.

Traffi c accidents throughout Europe claim tens of thousands of lives every year. The number of accidents that result in injuries are even more common. From the driver to passengers to pedestrians and cyclists, from the very young to the elderly, traffi c accidents take a heavy toll on Europe’s citizens.

Accidents have an enormous economic impact: lost productivity, medical bills and compensation for victims, physical losses of vehicles and structures and institutional costs (insurance management, police, trial costs, etc.).

Accidents have an enormous economic Accidents have an enormous economic impact: lost productivity, medical bills and impact: lost productivity, medical bills and compensation for victims, physical compensation for victims, physical losses of vehicles and structures losses of vehicles and structures and institutional costs and institutional costs (insurance management, (insurance management, police, trial costs, etc.).

Toyota believes that a responsible company must focus on proactivity – predicting problems and taking corrective measures before they happen. Toyota’s “TODAY for TOMORROW” vision

means that its expectations for the future must shape actions right now.

That principle informs Toyota’s vision for product and

technology development, which can be summed up

in two words: “Zeronize” and “Maximize”.

“Zeronize” symbolizes our vision and philosophy and our persistent efforts in minimizing the negative aspects of vehicles such as environmental impact, traffi c congestion and traffi c accidents.

“Maximize” symbolizes our vision and philosophy and our persistent efforts in maximizing the positive aspects of vehicles such as fun, excitement and comfort.

Toyota is working on two fronts to enhance the safety of its vehicles: active safety and passive safety.

Active safety is aimed at the broader goal of preventing accidents from occurring in the fi rst place. Active safety measures have played and will continue to play an increasingly important role. Technologies such as ABS, Traction Control, Brake Assist and Vehicle Stability Control (known as VSC) use electronic systems to assist drivers in maneuvering through many kinds of road conditions and situations.

Passive safety, meanwhile, is aimed at reducing injury of occupants and pedestrians in case of collision. Well-designed body structure and restraint systems have been developed. Front, side, head and knee protection airbags have been introduced across the car range, along with seatbelt pretentioners and force limiters. Toyota is working to reduce not only life-threatening injuries but also less severe injuries that can impair the quality of life, such as whiplash injury. More advanced airbag systems, among others, such as knee and chest/abdomen/waist airbags are being introduced.

EU OBJECTIVE: REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES BY 50% BY 2010.

111SAFETY FIRST1SAFETY FIRSTTraffi c accidents throughout 1Traffi c accidents throughout Europe claim tens of 1Europe claim tens of

accidents take a heavy toll on Europe’s citizens.

Accidents have an enormous economic impact: lost productivity, medical bills and compensation for victims, physical losses of vehicles and structures and institutional costs (insurance management, police, trial costs, etc.).

“As a major vehicle manufacturer,Toyota has a clear responsibility toward road

safety. Toyota is working to reduce traffi c

accidents, deaths and injuries. In pursuit of

that, we must strive for genuine sustainable

mobility and create new technologies in the

areas of active and passive safety while closely

cooperating with all stakeholders.”

Toyota’s overriding view is that all stakeholders in the road safety debate have a responsibility to help minimise the frequency of road accidents and, when they do happen, lessen their impact. Each step in the

creation of safe vehicles must consider three core factors: people, automobiles and the traffi c

environment. Each affects safety in different ways under different circumstances. Safety cannot be achieved by improving the vehicle alone; it requires people to drive more safely and for there

to be safer roads.

Governments around the world play an important role in regulating traffi c, educating

and licensing drivers, registering vehicles, building

and maintaining roadways, and imposing increasingly stringent safety requirements on automobile manufacturers. As a result, in many parts of the world, traffi c fatalities have been declining. In Europe, for example, traffi c fatalities fell by over 30% between 1980 and 2000.

Toyota’s Approach to Safety

factors: people, automobiles and the traffi c environment. Each affects safety in different

ways under different circumstances. Safety cannot be achieved by improving the vehicle alonepeople to drive more safely and for there

to be safer roads.

Governments around the world play an important role in regulating traffi c, educating

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the driver to passengers to pedestrians and cyclists, from the very young to the elderly, traffi c

The Hard Facts:

• 1.3 million accidents occur on Europe’s roads every year.• 50,000 deaths.• 1.7 million injuries. • €160 billion in direct and indirect costs.

TODAY for TOMORROW

TODAY for TOMORROW ∞ ‘‘Zeronize’’ and ‘‘Maximize’’

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TOYOTA & SAFETY22TOYOTA & SAFETY2TOYOTA & SAFETY

From Practice to Theory and Back

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The pursuit of real safety

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A fundamental component of building safer cars is gathering information and analysing why accidents occur and what causes injuries.

Toyota analyses data from real accidents that take place all over the world. By

analysing accident data and using simulation, Toyota develops new safety technologies, testing them on actual vehicles before being offered to the public in our product line-up. This is a perpetual cycle

through which Toyota seeks to enhance safety technologies

and reduce accidents continuously.

Using facilities like its Safety Research Centre in Japan, Toyota is working on evolving car design to respond to various collision scenarios. The company is developing vehicles with multi-directional compatibility (where a car is hit by a large, heavy vehicle from the front, side and rear to enhance collision safety further) and a vehicle body that helps lessen injury to pedestrians.

A SharedResponsibilityIn September 2001 the European Commission adopted a White Paper on European Transport Policy with the view to halve the number of road accident victims by 2010. Two years later, a Road safety action programme was adopted. The programme describes current achievements both at Union and Member State levels; what should be done in the future; and reaffi rms the overall objective of halving the number of road accident victims by 2010. The programme also aims to encourage road users to improve their behaviour, to make vehicle safer, and to improve road infrastructure. But governmental action alone is not enough; other entities must play an important role in promoting safer mobility.

In Europe, the European New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP), provides an independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe. It makes that information readily available to consumers, creating a tangible incentive for manufacturers to improve the safety performance of their vehicles.

A sister program, known as the European RoadAssessment Program (EuroRAP), which Toyota

co-sponsors, assesses roads throughout Europe for the risk of traffi c accidents that can cause

death or serious injury and makes recommendations for improvements to reduce the likelihood of accidents, or to make those that do happen survivable.

The Red Cross has also played a signifi cant role in improving road safety by conducting the European Red Cross Road Safety Campaign, in cooperation with Toyota. This campaign aims to reduce the number of people injured and killed in road traffi c accidents by raising awareness of road safety and promoting fi rst aid skills.

Toyota has a long history of safety innovations and achievements in both Active and Passive Safety.

From the world’s fi rst Active Suspension System in 1991 through the fi rst commercialisation of Vehicle Stability Control in 1995, and the fi rst Curtain Shield Airbag launched in 1998, Toyota has sought to

enhance safety tech nology and offer its benefi ts

to con sumers. (1)

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and offer its benefi ts to con sumers.

Toyota has a long history of safety innovations

Safety.

Airbag launched in 1998, Toyota has sought to

Toyota’s Safety Firsts (2)

Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension (1983)

Active Suspension System (1991)

Vehicle Stability Control – VSC (1995)

Curtain Shield Airbag (1998)

Navigated Cooperation Shift Control (1998)

Electronically Controlled Brake (2001)

VSC+ Variable Gear Ratio Steering (2002)

Hill-start Assist Control (2002)

Front & Side View Monitor System (2003)

Intelligent Parking Assist – IPA (2003)

Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System – KDSS (2003)

VSC+ (incl. Electronic Power Steering) (2003)

Pre-Crash Safety – PCS (2003)

Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management – VDIM (2004)

Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Following Mode (2004)Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Following Mode (2004)

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(1) some of the technologies described are available only in specifi c markets(2) Date of market introduction.

EuroNCAP: Toyota and Lexus

MODEL Adult Occupant Pedestrian Child Occupant Protection Rating Protection Rating Protection Rating

Lexus GS300 ✩✩✩✩✩ ✩✩ ✩✩✩✩ Toyota Prius ✩✩✩✩✩ ✩✩ ✩✩✩✩ Toyota Corolla Verso ✩✩✩✩✩ ✩✩ ✩✩✩✩ Toyota AYGO ✩✩✩✩ ✩✩ ✩✩✩ Toyota Avensis ✩✩✩✩✩ ✩ * Toyota Corolla ✩✩✩✩ ✩✩ * * not applicable

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UNDERSTANDING ACTIVE SAFETY 333Stability Control:Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) &Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM)

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is an active safety system

that automatically helps to control a vehicle

when it starts to slide – due to a sharp turn at too high speed, for example.

According to accident analyses in Japan, VSC can reduce single vehicle accident by up to 30%.

A variety of sensors tell the car’s computer (Electronic Control Unit, or ECU) what the car’s condition is, and what the driver is trying to do. Using this information, the VSC system activates the individual brakes as needed and controls the throttle to help maintain stability and keep the vehicle on course.

Toyota’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Man-agement (VDIM) was the result of integrating VSC with electronic power steering - Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) - a new technology that can adapt steering response.

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is an active safety system

that automatically helps to control a vehicle to control a vehicle

when it starts to when it starts to slide – due to a slide – due to a sharp turn at too sharp turn at too high speed, for high speed, for example.example.

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The focus of passive safety has been to design a car body that will absorb the potentially enormous energy a collision generates and provide restraints – such as seatbelts and airbags – to help protect occupants once an accident has occurred.

In 1995, Toyota introduced an optimised body structure, which includes rigid, well-isolated passenger compartments against offset frontal impact. Various kinds of safety equipment have been added, such as seat belt pre-tensioners and force-limiters and knee airbags.

Further enhancements in the fi eld of passive safety will concentrate on:

• Vehicle size compatibility (and protection of pedestrians)

• Passenger size compatibility (enhanced protection of small females and elderly people)

• Enhanced protection against less severe injuries (whiplash)

(enhanced protection of small (enhanced protection of small females and elderly people)

against less severe injuries (whiplash)

Passive Safety

• Energy absorbing body structure• Occupant restraint system

Passive Safetyassive Safety

Active SafetyToyota has developed a wide range of technologies which seek to ensure the highest possible level of vehicle control and stability. Ever-greater computing power means that more active safety systems can now be smoothly combined and controlled.

Toyota launched the world’s fi rst Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system in 1995, which

automatically controls brake force and engine output to help prevent

skidding. This served as the basis for the company’s recent, ground-breaking active safety technology: Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Man- agement (VDIM).

Toyota has also been involved in the development of visibility support technology such as the Blind-Corner Monitor (see Chapter 3).

While the development of passive safety continues at a steady pace, the development of active safety will be far quicker, as that is where the biggest potential lies for the reduction of injuries and fatalities.

• Vehicle stability• Accident mitigation

• Optimized Body Structure (1995)• Seat Belt P/T & F/L (1996)• Curtain Shield Air Bag (1998)• Knee Air Bag (2002)

• Vehicle size compatibility • Vehicle size compatibility • Vehicle size compatibility • Vehicle size compatibility • Vehicle size compatibility (and protection of pedestrians) (and protection of pedestrians) (and protection of pedestrians)

• Passenger size compatibility • Passenger size compatibility • Passenger size compatibility (enhanced protection of small (enhanced protection of small • Passenger size compatibility • Passenger size compatibility (enhanced protection of small

• Enhanced protection • Enhanced protection • Enhanced protection • Enhanced protection against less severe against less severe against less severe against less severe against less severe • Enhanced protection against less severe

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When taking a curve, the rear wheel of the vehicle may begin slipping laterally outward. If this occurs, VSC applies the outward front wheel brake for an instant, imparting outward moment to the vehicle’s body and controlling the outward lateral slip.

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Preventing Understeer

When the front wheels of a vehicle slip laterally toward the outside when taking a curve, VSC operates the brakes as needed and reduces engine output. The reduction in speed enables the tires to grip the road and put the vehicle back on course.

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• Anti-lock Brake System (1971)• Traction Control (1987)• Vehicle Stability Control (1995)• Pre-Crash Safety (2003)

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According to traffi c accident analyses, a majority of all accidents resulting in death or serious injury are caused by recognition error - a failure by the driver to (adequately) monitor the vehicle’s surroundings. Peripheral on-board monitoring technologies can help predict accidents, making it possible to reduce collision damage, or take preventive action to avoid a collision.

Toyota’s Pre-Crash Safety (PCS) consists of a camera(1), millimetre wave radar, pre-crash

brake, pre-crash brake assist, suspension control(1) and pre-crash seatbelt.

The camera and the millimetre wave radar detect the

position, distance and velocity of any obstacle in front of the car (even in bad weather with poor visibility), working in combination with the Pre-Crash Safety computer which monitors vehicle speed, steering angle, and yaw rate inputs to determine if a crash is

imminent. If it is, the system gives an audible

and visible warning to the

driver, retracts the front seatbelts and activates the pre-crash brake assist for maximum braking force and applies the brakes to reduce vehicle speed..

Toyota is now developing a refi ned pre-crash safety system that is able to provide early warning of an imminent collision by detecting when a driver is not looking straight ahead. This new feature – a response to data that suggests that most vehicle accidents are caused by lack of driver awareness(2) - uses a camera mounted on the steering column and an image-processing computer, to detect the orientation of the driver’s face. If the system reads that the driver is not facing forward when it determines that the probability of a collision is high, it will warn the driver so as to lessen collision injuries.

The Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) also automatically regulates the suspension’s shock absorber rates to help minimize vehicle nose-dive under emergency braking conditions. Finally, the pre-crash brake applies the brakes automatically to reduce the collision speed.As the name indicates,

Toyota’s Lane-Keeping Assist, or LKA, seeks to aid drivers to maintain their vehicle within their highway lane. LKA uses a camera and Electric Power Steering to assist a driver in two ways: fi rst, a warning alerts the driver when the vehicle is about to deviate from its lane, and briefl y applies a small counter-steering force to help the driver in preventing the vehicle from leaving its lane; secondly, a lane-keeping assist function constantly applies a small counter-steering force to keep the vehicle on course when the adaptive cruise control is enabled.

Lane-Keeping Assist

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VDIM is unique in two ways: fi rst, control is actuated before the vehicle exceeds its limits, thereby achieving higher preventive (active) safety performance; second, each system is integrated and seamlessly managed.

Each of the independent systems of VDIM (ABS, TRC, VSC, VGRS* and Electric Power Steering) are integrated for an effective and smooth operation. Toyota was one of the fi rst manufacturer to market VGRS in the Land Cruiser in 2002.

VDIM integrates all the electronic safety systems. Sensors com-municate numerous parameters to the ECU such as acceleration in forward, reverse and sideways directions, the wheel velocity, yaw rate (rate of rotation around the car’s centre of gravity) angle

of the steering wheel, how far the throttle is open and braking pressure on each of the four wheels, so that it gives a clear picture of the vehicle dynamics.

By comparing these sources of information, VDIM can recognize a driver’s intention and electronically activate the various safety systems to make the car more responsive to the driver, and enhance overall dynamic performance.

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Braking control Oversteer control Understeer control

of the steering wheel, how far the throttle is open and

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VDIM Evolution

VDIM with Active Steering Control

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(1) most advanced models(2) 2004 data from the Institute for Traffi c Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA)

* most advanced models

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IMPLEMENTING PASSIVE SAFETY

Toyota has been developing passive safety technology to reduce injury. Although active safety has great potential to reduce injuries and fatalities in the future,

enhancement of passive safety still has an important role for occupant protection.

In case of a collision, vehicles must be designed to absorb the energy of the impact using a framework with crumple zones that provide additional resistance to deformation and greater protection for occupants. This includes reinforced cabins and ensuring that door integrity remains intact after a collision to facilitate escape and rescue.

Toyota is also concerned by what happens when vehicle occupants strike parts of the interior of the vehicle cabin. The interior must therefore be designed to absorb secondary impact energy and help minimize the possibility of injury to the vehicle’s occupants:

Seatbelts are the primary restraint system and airbags are a supplemental system.

Steering columns and wheels are also designed to help absorb impact energy.

Protrusions are eliminated from the interior wherever possible.

Padding is placed in strategic positions. Toyota is constantly striving to enhance these features and standarize theimprovements.

Adaptive Cruise ControlAdaptive Cruise Control is a system that controls the accelerator and brakes to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

When the vehicle in front slows suddenly, the system issues a warning sound and a display prompting the driver to apply the brakes. If the driver does not respond in time, the system is designed to bring the vehicle safely to a complete stop. The key to ACC lies in a broader range laser sensor for detecting vehicles ahead and enhanced recognition capabilities, as well as the use of a high-performance braking system that operates smoothly at lower speeds.

Blind-Corner Monitor& Parking Assist

Toyota’s Blind-Corner Monitor helps minimise danger when approaching crossings, or “T” junctions, using a camera and a colour display screen.

A camera with a built-in prism is installed in the middle of the front grille of the vehicle, and it sends a picture to the display screen positioned inside the car. When the car approaches a crossing in the road where visibility is reduced to the left and right, the image on the display

shows a view of approximately 20 metres in both directions, at an angle of 25°.

This helps the driver see approaching vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, thus helping to minimize potential danger.

An alternative version of this set-up is available with the practical Parking Assist System. When reversing, a compact rear camera helps the driver see vehicles and obstacles behind the car on a colour monitor. These images are complemented by guiding lines to help the driver during parking manoeuvres. This system also incorporates a special mode for tight parking places.

potential to reduce injuries and fatalities in the future, enhancement of passive safety still has an

important role for occupant protection.

shows a view of approximately 20 metres in both directions, at an angle of 25°.

This helps the driver see approaching vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, thus helping to minimize potential danger.

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TOYOTA CONTINUES TO RESEARCH AND ENHANCE ITS PASSIVE SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES IN ORDER TO PRO-TECT VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Detection range of Laser-radar sensor

An alternative version of this set-up is available with the

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Toyota has been developing passive safety technology

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Reduce Whiplash Injury: WIL

12 13

To develop better passive safety technologies and enhance pedestrian safety, designers must understand how injuries are sustained in a variety of accident types and to a variety of vehicle occupants.

Traditional crash test dummies cannot provide such precise information, so Toyota has developed an innovative computer-generated, virtual model of the etntire human body: Total HUman Model for Safety, or THUMS.

THUMS reproduces not only the skeletal structure of a person, but also a body’s internal organs and muscles, making it possible to implement precise simulations of the effects of accidents on bone structures, skin, joints and ligaments.

The THUMS “family” currently includes a typical male occupant, a small female occupant, a six year-old child pedestrian and a typical male pedastrian model.

Toyota is using THUMS to further its research into automobile body development designed to enhance passive safety further, and is providing THUMS for use outside of Toyota to improve vehicle safety in general.

Toyota is using THUMS to further

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Adult Woman

Airbags play a vital role in preventing further injury to car occupants in case of a collision. Toyota has played a pioneering role in this area, having developed the world’s fi rst curtain shield airbag system in 1998. The Toyota Avensis was the fi rst vehicle in Europe to be launched with an SRS driver’s knee airbag in 2003.

In June 2005, Toyota became the world’s fi rst automaker to develop a twin-chamber airbag to increase front-seat passenger safety.

The SRS Twin-chamber airbag features an advanced shape: its two chambers create a depression in the center of the airbag upon deployment, thereby dispersing the physical impact of the airbag over a wider number of areas on the passenger and helping to reduce the potential for injury.

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Toyota front driver and passenger seats incorporate a Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) design to help reduce the risk of neck whiplash injuries to upper vertebrae in low-speed rear end collisions.

WIL seatback frames are carefully designed to yield in a controlled fashion to absorb the energy of occupants’ torsos during rear-end crashes.

This design feature helps lessen the differential motion of head and torso, which is the cause of whiplash. The WIL concept seat was introduced in 1997 and its performance has been enhanced by using virtual human body model, THUMS.

Virtual Human Body: THUMS

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Passenger safety begins with buckling up. Toyota is working hard to make seatbelts more comfortable and easier to wear. In a collision, seatbelts are the most important safety device to help protect occupants. During the development of a new automobile, Toyota uses dummies of several different sizes to make sure

the seatbelts, anchors, and buckles are positioned for a safe and comfortable

fi t. While road-testing prototypes, real people use the seatbelts and report on their fi t and comfort. Adjustable shoulder anchors are provided for wearers to change the height

of the belt for additional comfort and safety.

Depending upon the seating confi -guration, most Toyota vehicles even have 3-point belts for the passenger sitting in the middle of the back seat.

The Tension-Reducing Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) automatically locks when vehicle occupants pull on the belt to ensure it’s secure enough to work, yet loose enough to feel comfortable. And most of Toyota’s vehicles have pre-tensioners and belt force limiter for the front occupants which quickly pull the seatbelt back and restrain occupants with suitable belt force in case of head-on collision.

Toyota has installed its warning lamp and buzzer seatbelt reminder system for the driver and passenger seats since 2003 and nearly all Toyota passenger models feature this reminder system.

Seatbelts

positioned for a safe and comfortable fi t. While road-testing prototypes,

real people use the seatbelts and report on their fi t and comfort. Adjustable shoulder anchors are provided for wearers to change the height

of the belt for additional comfort and safety.

Depending upon the seating confi -

Toyota is working hard to enhance the safety of children in its vehicles. For instance, the Toyota Prius Hybrid achieved the highest-ever Child Safety score in EuroNCAP (43 points and 4 stars). Other models, like the Corolla Verso and Lexus GS300, have also

achieved 4 stars in the same test.

Among the standards for safety installations and restraint systems, one of the most widely known is the system for the connection of child restraint systems to vehicles, commonly referred to as ISOFIX. The aim of the ISOFIX standard is to avoid the incorrect fi tting of universal child seats when installed in cars, thus reducing the risk of injury in the event of a collision. Toyota fi rst adopted the ISOFIX standard in 1999 and it will be available in all Toyota passenger vehicles from 2006.

Further research into child restraint systems has led to excellent child seats being sold by Toyota’s European retailer network,

backed by a Toyota guarantee. And Toyota is involved in a special education program with Germany’s

ADAC, entitled “Sicher im Auto.” This program educates parents on how to install child seats properly in their vehicles, with some 80,000 people participating each year.

TOYOTA ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST-EVER CHILD SAFETY SCORE IN EuroNCAP

backed by a Toyota guarantee. And Toyota is involved in a special

ADAC, entitled “Sicher im Auto.” This program educates parents on how to install child seats properly in their vehicles, with some 80,000 people participating each year.

pull the seatbelt back and restrain occupants with pull the seatbelt back and restrain occupants with suitable belt force in case of head-on collision.suitable belt force in case of head-on collision.

Toyota has installed its warning lamp Toyota has installed its warning lamp and buzzer seatbelt reminder and buzzer seatbelt reminder system for the driver and system for the driver and passenger seats since 2003 passenger seats since 2003 and nearly all Toyota and nearly all Toyota passenger models feature passenger models feature

ChildSafety

Pedestrian SafetyToyota’s comprehensive approach toward safety – focussing on people, automobiles and the traffi c environment – means its vehicles must afford high levels of safety not just to vehicle occupants, but pedestrians too.

Using THUMS and other test devices, Toyota simulates pedestrian accidents and analyses different results obtained according to the size of the pedestrian. The information gathered from this research is used to create automobile bodies that provide high level of safety for pedestrians.

1514

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WHAT NEXT? 55

TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE TO ACT TODAY FOR TOMORROW !

Whilst mankind have been quick to imple ment many new advanced technologies in our daily lives that make

them more convenient, pleasant and productive, the transport sector has lagged

sadly behind: its primary controlling technology is still the traffi c light - a technology that has barely

changed since it was invented in 1923.

Traffi c accidents and congestion are costly to society in terms of lost lives, productivity, and energy. New ways of looking at overall transport objectives are needed to make transport more effi cient and environmentally sound.

Intelligent transport systems (ITS) will be the hallmark of the future, enabling people and goods to move more safely and effi ciently. Critical ITS enabling technologies include microelectronics, satellite navigation, mobile communication and sensors. When integrated into vehicles and the transportation system infrastructure, these technologies can help monitor

and manage traffi c fl ows, mitigate congestion, provide alternate routes to travellers and save lives.

Toyota’s Intelligent Transport System (ITS) mitigates congestion through the use of electronics and telecommunications technology.

For instance, a number of visitors to 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Japan, were transported by Toyota’s IMTS (Intelligent Multimode Transit System). The IMTS allows the unmanned, automatic and platoon operation of buses on dedicated roads, and manual operation by a driver on ordinary roads.

The implementation of new information and communication technology advances in the sector will certainly lead to technologies that permit direct road-to-car communication, car-to-car communication and even person-to-car communication. This kind of next generation traffi c information system will have to be created as a cooperative effort between individuals, business and government.

Toyota will of course continue its industry-leading development of ever more effective active and passive safety technologies, including further accident prevention thanks to radar and camera detection systems; smart restraint systems to enhance the protection of elderly, disabled and other more vulnerable road users; and active systems on vehicles for better pedestrian protection. Toyota is also striving to improve the fl ow of critical information to the driver, making the vehicle itself a medium of information, and assisting the driver both judgement and operation. Together this will enable the realisation of cars that support their drivers.

As new safety technologies are developed, Toyota will also strive to reduce the time needed for their widespread implementation– continuing to act TODAY for TOMORROW.

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Car-to-car communication

16

Whilst mankind have been quick to imple ment many new advanced technologies in our daily lives that make

them more convenient, pleasant and productive, the transport sector has lagged

sadly behind: its primary controlling technology

“Going to the source to fi nd the

facts to make correct decisions, build

consensus and achieve goals.”

Genchi Genbutsu

Page 11: Toyota and Safety · Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is an active safety system that automatically helps to control a vehicle when it

Toyota Motor Europe

Corporate Affairs

Avenue du Bourget 60 - 1140 Brussels, Belgium

Tel. +32 2 745 21 11 / Fax +32 2 745 20 68

e-mail: [email protected]

www.toyota-europe.com

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