Technology Partnerships Canada Investment in Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc.

Wednesday June 20, 2001

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (IMS) will undertake research and development (R&D) related to software systems for the deployment of smart devices to activate next-generation technology automotive airbags. This technology integrates automotive adaptive restraint inflation devices that deploy proportional to the occupant's size, weight, position; use of the seatbelt; velocity and direction of impact; specifics of the compartment's geometry, and the crush properties of the vehicle.

Activities covered by the investment include R&D for:

  • Weight and Proximity Sensor Module - This will accurately measure an automobile upant's weight and distance from the airbag, ensuring that the airbag deploys with the appropriate force.
  • Multi-level Air Bag Deployment Module - The goal is to design and develop an airbag that can inflate at eight separate deployment levels, with the appropriate selection being made automatically.
  • Neuro-Fuzzy Based Inference Engine and Crash Severity Assessment Module - This IMS component will receive data from all airbag-related sensors - including occupant weight and proximity, plus seatbelt information and vehicle dynamics - weigh the severity of the crash and then determine the optimal airbag deployment level that provides the most protection, while minimizing air bag injury.
  • Real Time Logging Sensory System Module - This focusses on the development of a very sophisticated multi-data management system for accident recreation.

This R&D could also find uses in areas where input signals are cluttered or in hostile environments such as mining, aviation, medicine, and telecommunications.

The $10-million project - which includes TPC's investment of $3 million - will create 40 jobs during the R&D phase and 54 jobs during the benefits phase for a total of 94 jobs.

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc., of Waterloo, Ontario, focusses on research and development related to the proprietary intelligent sensor and control software technology. The firm has a staff of 16 engineers.

 

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