Industry Study: Validation for Child Presence Detection

To answer this, MESSRING initiated a collaborative research project together with LMU Munich – Biomechanics and Accident Analysis Institute of Legal Medicine from LMU Munich, AUMOVIO SE, Embedded AI and AZT Automotive GmbH (Allianz Zentrum für Technik). The objective was clear: generate ethically approved, high-quality reference data from real children and directly compare it with measurements obtained from CPD surrogates.

All measurements were conducted under approval of the Ethics Committee of the LMU Medical Faculty. Children from three age groups – newborn/1-year-old, 2-3 years, and 5–6 years – were measured in age-appropriate child restraint systems. Testing took place both inside the vehicle and in a standardized multi-angle “stargate” validation setup. Two independent ultra-wideband radar systems were evaluated, ensuring technological diversity and industry relevance.

The comparative analysis demonstrated that the MESSRING surrogates included in the study have radar reflective behavior that is comparable to those of real children. The signal strength showed similar spread over the different detection angles, both for real children and surrogates. In-vehicle measurements confirmed that surrogate performance remains robust across seating positions and system configurations.

This project represents one of the first ethically approved datasets directly linking surrogate-based CPD validation with real-world child measurements. By combining academic expertise, radar system development, and specialized surrogate engineering, the consortium has created a solid technical foundation for future CPD testing and refinement.

For OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and validation laboratories, the outcome provides increased confidence in surrogate-based testing, reduced development risk, and alignment with evolving regulatory and NCAP requirements.