Oregon-based PreAct Technologies is in the process of developing intelligent sensing technology to bridge the gap between collision avoidance and active safety systems.

Specifically, the company is focused on developing a reliable, high-speed detection, near-field sensing and perception system that will enable the world’s first mass production, pre-crash airbags, and other safety countermeasures. The goal of the system is to help prevent millions of serious injuries and roadway fatalities.

In the U.S., traffic fatalities continue to rise. An estimated 20,160 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in the first half of 2021 alone — that’s up 18.4% over 2020.

Unlike current safety systems, PreAct Technologies’ solution is focused on imminent collisions. The pre-crash technology uses continuous wave, time-of-flight technology to precisely sense depth, speed and location of objects to predict impending crashes. Because it is so precise and immediate, the system can also predict how severe a crash will be, thereby ascertaining which airbags to deploy and when, according to the company.

The objective of the new solution is to anticipate crashes and prepare a vehicle for an imminent collision, deploying airbags and other safety devices before the crash happens. In an urban environment, being able to detect collisions milliseconds before they happen could help reduce the majority of severe injuries and fatalities from car crashes, notes the company.

While PreAct has not stated when the new system will be brought to market, the company recently received $13 million in funding to help drive development and production of its next-generation automotive safety technology.