Volvo inventions changed the auto industry

Volvo is well known for creating cars with outstanding safety standards in the auto industry, from the use of ultra-hard boron steel to active safety technologies. Here are the technologies that Volvo invented and applied by many other manufacturers.

Three-point seat belt (1959)

Ask for a favor Invention of Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin, the number of deaths from accidents has decreased significantly, this is considered a Swedish invention that has saved more than a million lives. Volvo used three-point seat belts on the PV544 before it became mandatory on every car. To ensure that every vehicle can be fitted with a three-point seat belt, Volvo has given up its patent rights, since then three-point seat belts have become standard equipment on all models of the company. the firm.

Rear-facing child seat (1972)

Inspired by space rocket seats, where astronauts lie on their backs to reduce the risk of injury, Volvo inspired children’s seats in 1972. The seat helped to reduce impact injuries. The company also renewed and upgraded the booster seats in 1976 and 1990.

Protection from a Side Stab (1991)

Because cars can be impacted by external forces from the side and endanger their lives, Volvo has improved the side impact protection system (SIPS). The system includes sturdy reinforced seats, floor rails and energy-absorbing materials in the chassis structure. Until 1994, side airbags were added to improve safety.

Protecting the cervical spine (1998)

When a car is hit at high speed, a person’s neck can be broken forward, causing serious injury and permanent damage. Volvo focused on the problem and developed a collision protection system, which includes a firm and consistent headrest with the seat that helps support the occupants in a collision.

Specifically, when the car suddenly crashes forward, according to inertia, the head will rush forward and then jerk backwards. At this time, a hard enough headrest will prevent the head from tilting back causing a neck fracture. Conversely, when the car is hit hard from behind, the back of the seat will also be adjusted to fall back a bit, in order to reduce inertia so that the head is not thrown back sharply.

Inflatable curtains (1998)

Also in 1998, Volvo introduced an inflatable curtain like an airbag, which is integrated into the roof frame and can absorb significant energy when impacted on the front and side of the vehicle. This system is activated in 25 milliseconds, the curtains will be inflated from the front to the rear of the cabin.

Vehicle rollover protection system (2002)

The ROPS (Roll-Over Protection System) system uses electronic stability control to prevent the vehicle from tipping over, and the toughened steel roof helps reduce serious injury if the vehicle is rolled over.

With a convertible, when the car flips, from the back, two hard steel bars will automatically emerge from the rear, firmly connected to the body. These two steel bars match the frame of the windshield to form a frame that protects the head from being swept on the road.

Blind Spot Warning System (2003)

When sitting in a car, there will be many points that the rearview mirror cannot see, so Volvo has introduced a blind-spot monitoring system that uses cameras and radar to detect which vehicles are around the vehicle and warn. the driver with a flash on the mirror.

After Volvo used this system, in 2009 Mazda also integrated it. Mazda is the first Japanese automaker to have blind spot warning technology.

Pedestrian detection warning (2010)

The Swedish automaker wanted to make sure that even people outside the car were safe, so it developed a pedestrian detection system in 2010. The system uses radar and cameras to identify pedestrians. On the road, if a pedestrian suddenly crosses the road or the driver does not have enough time to react, the emergency braking system is activated if a potential collision is detected. This braking system is part of the City Safety package, which the company introduced in 2008.

In addition to the above inventions, Volvo is also known for being the first company to use laminated windshields engine that combines both supercharger and turbocharger. Although the idea of ​​bringing supercharge and turbocharge together is not Volvo’s, the Swedish automaker is known for using this method thoroughly.

Volvo is also known for its tenacity when it comes to holding the title The car with the longest mileage in the world according to Guinness, with the 1966 model year P1800S. With an odo of 4,890.993 km measured in 2014, Mr. Irv Gordon, the sole owner of this used car for long-distance driving throughout the United States. He claims the secret to prolonging the car’s life is to change the oil regularly, strictly follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions and keep the car clean. There were a few parts that had worn out and had to be replaced, but the engine and transmission remained original.

Irv continued to drive the P1800S until his death at the age of 77 in 2018. At that time, the meter was measured to show 5,230.368 km, which is nearly 130 times around the world or 6 times going to the moon and turning. again.

Minh Quan
Image: Volvo