Using the cameras in its vehicles, Tesla has managed to deploy airbags up to 70 milliseconds earlier in the event of an accident

Vehicles from Tesla have long used their cameras for advanced driver assistance functions, automated driving, and as a replacement for parking sensors, but the capabilities of these sensors can go much further. The North American manufacturer has now found a new and valuable use for them: anticipating accidents and deploying airbags earlier.

Thanks to a recent software update, the vehicle’s camera system is capable of detecting an imminent collision, identifying the type of impact, estimating its timing and assessing its possible severity. This allows the car to prepare its restraint systems, such as the seat belt pretensioners, before traditional physical sensors begin to register the crash. According to Tesla, this anticipation makes it possible to deploy the airbags up to 70 milliseconds earlier, a small but significant margin in a severe impact.

Unlike conventional accelerometer sensors, which only react once the collision has begun, cameras offer predictive vision. This is especially relevant because airbags do not inflate instantly; they require time to reach their full protective capacity. By activating them sooner, their effectiveness is maximized and the risk of injury to the occupants is reduced.

Every millisecond counts

Tesla has published a video explaining how this technology works. Although traditional impact sensors remain responsible for the final decision to deploy the airbags, the cameras provide an additional layer of information that improves the overall response of the system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb-OqxUWPDE

Vehicles from Tesla already stand out for the level of safety they offer, with very high scores in tests by various automotive organisations, including Euro NCAP. The best part is that to enjoy this improvement it will not be necessary to buy a new Tesla, since through a software update it will be available on a large part of the brand’s vehicles already on the road. Tesla has not, however, specified which models or specific versions will receive it.

In this way, Tesla continues to innovate by making the most of the hardware already installed in its vehicles, turning the cameras into a key element not only for autonomous driving but also for better protecting their occupants in critical situations.