The preventive research work of 14 professors and their research assistants focuses on the integration of the following research fields into a global safety system:

Research Field “Sensor and Communication Systems“

Sensor and communication devices are senses taht transmit information to the system about the driving situation, environment etc. They are the research focus of Prof. Inge Weigel, Prof. Thomas Brandmeier, Prof. Johann Schweiger and Prof. Christian Facchi. 

Research Field “Actuators“

The system intervention into the driving situation in order to deactivate dangerous situations and the development of restraint devices like belt pre-tentioners and airbags require the bundling of competences from the research field “Actuators”, conducted by Prof. Armin Arnold, Prof. Johannes Pforr, Prof. Karl Huber and Prof. Harald Göllinger. 

Research Field “Safety Functions and Simulation“

The safety functions represent the connection between sensors and actuators. The research field is led by Prof. Manuela Waltz, Prof. Thomas Brandmeier, Prof. Armin Arnold and Prof. Rudolf Dallner. The focus lies on processing and evaluation of sensor data by using the appropriate algorithms and on the control of safety devices for car passengers and pedestrians or of actuators for steering and braking interventions. The tests and simulations also contributes to the research work of other fields.   

Research Field „Safety Mechanics“ 

An essential component of the protection of car passengers and inmates is the vehicle structure with its complex, multistage crumple areas for the absorption of the kinetic energy of the crash and of the most rigid safety passenger cell. In this way, the future vehicle body will depend on framework conditions like air conditioning, which nowadays consumes a great deal of energy. The focus of the research field lies on the protective function of the car body in the sense of lightweight construction (Prof. Jörg Wellnitz, Prof. Armin Soika and Prof. Willfried Zörner) and its effects on vehicle production (Prof. Ulrich Schmidt) and crash detection (Prof. Thomas Brandmeier).