Ensuring the Safety of Children in Vehicles:
OD (Occupant Detection) Dummy Series
The OD Dummy Series has been developed to enhance the safety and protection of children in vehicles. These advanced dummies, designed to simulate the anatomical and behavioral characteristics of children at various ages, provide a comprehensive tool for testing and improving in-cabin safety systems. By accurately replicating the movements, sleep patterns, and typical behaviors of newborns, toddlers, and young children, the OD Dummy Series helps develop and evaluate vehicle monitoring systems (e.g. CPD -Child presence detection) to detect the presence of a child and respond appropriately, ensuring that no child is left behind in a potentially dangerous situation. This innovative series is essential for the future development of vehicle safety systems, providing peace of mind to caregivers and enhancing the overall safety of vehicle interiors.
- Consortium development: Developed in close cooperation with experts (over 35 companies) from research and industry, which ensures a scientifically validated basis for all sensor types used worldwide.
- Scientific basis: Comprehensive literature review and analysis of pediatric physiology of children from birth to six years of age (breathing, cardiology and movement patterns)
- Sensor compatibility: The participation of the extensive international consortium ensures a guaranteed and well-founded database and enables verification and validation across all sensor types.
- Imitation human tissue: A flexible high-tech dummy outer shell makes it possible for radar sensors from the UWB range up to 80 GHz to simulate the electromagnetic properties of human tissue. In addition, the high damping properties make the internal structures and actuators of the dummy invisible.
- Human movement patterns: a high number of degrees of freedom (DOF – 4activeOD-newborn:6DOF, 4activeOD-1YO:16DOF, 4activeOD- 3YO:17DOF, 4activeOD-6YO:17DOF) in order to realistically reproduce the complex, human movement sequences and micro-movements. The movements are carried out stochastically.
- Parameterizable breathing: Electronic actuators can be used to precisely define the breathing stroke, breathing rate and breathing movement (shallow breathing, deep breathing, abdominal breathing).
- Predefined movement modes: stochastic movement sequences for deep sleep, wake-up and waking phase. These are used for the certification tests (ISO, Euro-NCAP).
- User-defined movement modes: Simple and intuitive programming of your own movement sequences through endpoint and time specifications. The movement of the individual limbs is interpolated by spline functions.
4activeOD-6YO
4activeOD-6YO Dummy: Testing Child Presence Detection for Six-Year-Olds
Of all the age groups covered by Euro NCAP’s CPD requirements, the six-year-old presents the most demanding detection challenge. Physically active, cognitively aware, and capable of shifting posture, gesturing, and vocalizing, a child this age moves in ways that are far more varied than any younger occupant. The 4activeOD-6YO is Euro NCAP-certified for child presence detection testing, validated under Euro NCAP – Test and Assessment Protocol – Child Presence Detection v1.3, and designed to replicate exactly that complexity. With 17 degrees of freedom and the broadest movement range of the entire 4activeOD family, it sets the benchmark for what in-cabin detection systems must be able to handle.
Key Features and Behavioral Characteristics
- Euro NCAP Certified: Validated under Euro NCAP – Test and Assessment Protocol – Child Presence Detection v1.3, part of the only fully certified CPD dummy family covering all relevant child age groups.
- Broadest Movement Range in the Family: With 17 degrees of freedom, the 4activeOD-6YO covers a wider range of natural motion than any other dummy in the 4activeOD lineup, reflecting the physical capability and cognitive awareness of a six-year-old.
- Four Behavioral States: Deep Sleep, Sleep, Wake Up, and Awake, including active motion and speech sequences, representing the most varied and unpredictable behavioral profile across the entire dummy family.
- Selectable, Reproducible Patterns: All movement and breathing patterns are adjustable and fully reproducible, independent of external variables, ensuring consistent test conditions across sessions and facilities.
- Advanced Skin Material: A proprietary skin material matches the radar properties of real human tissue. Electromagnetic waves penetrate only a few millimeters, just as with real skin, while all internal mechatronic components remain fully shielded and invisible to sensors.
- Internal Actuation Technology: All mechanics are housed inside the body, no external attachments required, delivering accurate, unobstructed biomechanical motion.
- Broad Sensor Compatibility: Compatible with radar, camera, infrared, UWB, and LiDAR systems.
- Multiple CRS Configurations: Supports various Child Restraint System configurations and seat positions.
Purpose and Impact
A CPD system that struggles to detect a six-year-old is not a system ready for real-world deployment. The 4activeOD-6YO is built around that premise, giving automotive engineers the most demanding certified test scenario available, one that reflects what detection systems will actually encounter.
Developed within the international CPD Consortium, with more than 35 OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, research institutions, and regulatory bodies, the 4activeOD-6YO completes the only fully certified CPD dummy family on the market. Passing with this dummy means passing against the hardest case. For manufacturers working toward Euro NCAP compliance, that is exactly the assurance worth having.
4activeOD-3YO
4activeOD-3YO Dummy: Testing Child Presence Detection for Three-Year-Olds
A three-year-old is not simply a bigger infant. At this age, children move spontaneously and unpredictably, less constrained than a newborn, more erratic than an older child. That behavioral complexity is precisely what makes this age group one of the most demanding to detect reliably. The 4activeOD-3YO is Euro NCAP-certified for child presence detection testing, validated under Euro NCAP – Test and Assessment Protocol – Child Presence Detection v1.3, and built to match that complexity with 17 degrees of freedom, making it the most biomechanically sophisticated CPD dummy available for three-year-old occupants.
Key Features and Behavioral Characteristics
- Euro NCAP Certified: Validated under Euro NCAP CPD Test and Assessment Protocol v1.3, part of the only fully certified CPD dummy family covering all relevant child age groups.
- 17 Degrees of Freedom: The highest biomechanical complexity of any CPD dummy for this age group, capturing the spontaneous, unpredictable movement patterns characteristic of a three-year-old.
- Four Behavioral States: Deep Sleep, Sleep, Wake Up, and Awake, including spontaneous active motion and simple speech sequences, covering the full range of behavior a detection system will encounter.
- Selectable, Reproducible Patterns: All movement and breathing patterns are adjustable and fully reproducible, independent of external variables, ensuring consistent and comparable test conditions.
- Advanced Skin Material: A proprietary skin material matches the radar properties of real human tissue. Electromagnetic waves penetrate only a few millimeters, just as with real skin, while all internal mechatronic components remain fully shielded and invisible to sensors.
- Internal Actuation Technology: All mechanics are housed inside the body. No external attachments, no accessories, just accurate biomechanical motion from within.
- Broad Sensor Compatibility: Compatible with radar, camera, infrared, UWB, and LiDAR systems.
- Multiple CRS Configurations: Supports various Child Restraint System configurations and seat positions.
Purpose and Impact
CPD systems that perform well against simpler test tools can still fail when confronted with the unpredictable behavior of a real three-year-old. The 4activeOD-3YO closes that gap, giving automotive engineers a certified, reproducible, and biomechanically accurate benchmark for this age group.
Developed within the international CPD Consortium, with more than 35 OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, research institutions, and regulatory bodies, the 4activeOD-3YO is part of the only fully certified CPD dummy family on the market. For manufacturers working toward Euro NCAP compliance, that certification is not just a credential, it is the assurance that the test tool itself has been validated to the same standard as the systems being tested.
4activeOD-1YO
4activeOD-1YO Dummy: Enhancing the Safety of Toddlers in Vehicles
The 4activeOD-1YO is Euro NCAP-certified for child presence detection testing, validated under Euro NCAP – Test and Assessment Protocol – Child Presence Detection v1.3. It gives automotive engineers a physically accurate, reproducible test tool for detecting one-year-olds in vehicle cabins, reflecting the significantly higher activity level of a toddler compared to a newborn. Every year, young children are left behind in vehicles with fatal consequences. Euro NCAP now requires reliable in-cabin child presence detection, and validating those systems demands a dummy that moves and breathes like a real one-year-old, not a simplified approximation.
Key Features and Behavioral Characteristics
- Euro NCAP Certified: Validated under Euro NCAP CPD Test and Assessment Protocol v1.3, part of the only fully certified CPD dummy family covering all relevant child age groups.
- Realistic Movements: The 4activeOD-1YO accurately simulates age-appropriate head, body, arm, and leg movements, reflecting the significantly higher activity level of a one-year-old compared to a newborn.
- Four Behavioral States: Deep Sleep, Sleep, Wake Up, and Awake, including active wakefulness such as playing, replicating the full range of toddler behavior that detection systems must reliably identify.
- Adjustable Breathing Patterns: Each behavioral state runs with selectable, adjustable breathing patterns, fully reproducible and independent of external variables.
- Advanced Skin Material: A proprietary skin material matches the radar properties of real human tissue. Electromagnetic waves penetrate only a few millimeters, just as with real skin, while all internal mechatronic components remain fully shielded and invisible to sensors.
- Internal Actuation Technology: All actuation is housed inside the body, enabling genuine biomechanical movement simulation without external attachments or accessories.
- Broad Sensor Compatibility: Compatible with radar, camera, infrared, UWB, and LiDAR systems.
- Multiple CRS Configurations: Supports various Child Restraint System configurations and seat positions.
Purpose and Impact
The primary goal of the 4activeOD-1YO is to test and evaluate vehicle interior monitoring systems, verifying that they can detect the presence of a one-year-old and respond appropriately. By incorporating physically accurate anatomical and behavioral simulation, it provides a comprehensive, certifiable testing tool that enhances the reliability and effectiveness of child presence detection systems.
Developed within the international CPD Consortium, with more than 35 OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, research institutions, and regulatory bodies, the 4activeOD-1YO is part of the only fully certified CPD dummy family covering all relevant child age groups. For automotive manufacturers, this means a validated path to Euro NCAP compliance and measurably safer vehicles for some of the most vulnerable passengers.
4activeOD-newborn
4activeOD-newborn Dummy: Ensuring the Safety of Newborns in Vehicles
The 4activeOD-newborn is the world’s first and only Euro NCAP-certified CPD dummy for newborns – validated under Euro NCAP – Test and Assessment Protocol – Child Presence Detection v1.3. Developed to give automotive engineers a physically accurate, reproducible test tool for detecting the most vulnerable occupants in a vehicle cabin. Every year, newborns are left behind in vehicles with fatal consequences. Euro NCAP now requires reliable in-cabin child presence detection – and validating those systems demands a dummy that behaves like a real newborn, not a simplified approximation.
Key Features and Behavioral Characteristics
- Euro NCAP Certified: Validated under Euro NCAP CPD Test and Assessment Protocol v1.3 – the only newborn CPD dummy to meet this standard.
- Realistic Movements: The 4activeOD-Newborn accurately simulates age-appropriate head, chest, and abdominal breathing movements. Each behavioral state runs with selectable, adjustable patterns – fully reproducible and independent of external variables.
- Four Behavioral States: Deep Sleep, Sleep, Wake Up, and Awake – replicating the full range of newborn behavior that detection systems must reliably identify.
- Advanced Skin Material: A proprietary skin material matches the radar properties of real human tissue. Electromagnetic waves penetrate only a few millimeters – exactly as with real skin – while all internal mechatronic components remain fully shielded and invisible to sensors.
- Internal Actuation Technology: All actuation is housed inside the body, enabling genuine biomechanical movement simulation without external attachments or accessories. This allows for accurate breathing mechanics – including age-appropriate chest, shoulder, and abdominal motion.
- Broad Sensor Compatibility: Compatible with radar, camera, infrared, UWB, and LiDAR systems.
- Multiple CRS Configurations: Supports various Child Restraint System configurations and seat positions.
Purpose and Impact
The primary goal of the 4activeOD-newborn is to test and evaluate vehicle interior monitoring systems – verifying that they can detect the presence of a newborn and respond appropriately. By incorporating physically accurate anatomical and behavioral simulation, it provides a comprehensive, certifiable testing tool that enhances the reliability and effectiveness of child presence detection systems.
Developed within the international CPD Consortium – more than 35 OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, research institutions, and regulatory bodies – the 4activeOD-newborn is part of the only fully certified CPD dummy family covering all relevant child age groups. For automotive manufacturers, this means a validated path to Euro NCAP compliance and measurably safer vehicles for the most vulnerable passengers.