Volvo EX90 Occupant Detection System May Save Trapped Loved Ones

The EX90, Volvo's electric SUV debuting on November 9, will be the first vehicle for sale to feature a new monitoring system designed to detect faint movements, like a sleeping toddler, throughout the vehicle's interior, including the trunk.

The system relies on radar sensors mounted throughout the car, not just in the trunk, but also in the overhead console and roof-mounted reading lights, to detect sub-millimeter movements. If a child or pet is left behind, it can alert the car's owner, saving lives on a hot day.

Last year, 23 children in the U.S. died of heat stroke after being left in a car, according to Kids and Cars, a nonprofit organization focused on preventing injuries and deaths of children and pets in and around cars. Not all cases are simply forgotten by parents or caregivers. In some cases, children have access to vehicles and are trapped unattended.

The system is activated each time the owner attempts to lock the vehicle and determines if there are any people or pets in the vehicle before locking it. If the vehicle fails to lock, a warning message appears on the infotainment screen, prompting the owner to check for occupants. If the system detects the presence of a person or pet in the vehicle, it can also switch on the air conditioning to make the interior more comfortable.

Toyota announced a similar system in May, but the Toyota version is still in the concept stage.

Volvo plans to eventually roll out the system across its entire lineup, albeit only in markets where the specific frequency used by the system is approved for automotive use. The 60 gigahertz wave used by the system has been approved for use in other automotive occupant monitoring systems in the United States.

The EX90 has also been confirmed to include a driver monitor that uses radar sensors and cameras to look for signs of distraction. This system is designed to allow the vehicle to safely stop if it notices that the driver is not feeling well or falling asleep.

The EX90 is the electric successor to Volvo's XC90; it is scheduled for release in 2023 and will be built for the North American market at a plant in Charleston, South Carolina. The plant will also produce the related Polestar 3 electric SUV.