Audi’s Pre Sense Technology

Audi’s pre sense basic is a system which detects when an emergency manoeuvre is being made and prepares the vehicle and its occupant restraint systems in advance of a possible collision. 



The braking and stability control systems provide continuous feedback to the system regarding the longitudinal and lateral acceleration and deceleration. At speeds above 30km/h, if these systems identify a critical manoeuvre, typical of a driver response to a likely collision, pre sense basic uses electrical pre-tensioners to remove slack from the front seatbelts. By doing so, they prevent the occupants from moving to a position in which they are more likely to be injured if a collision occurs. The electrical pre-tensioners used by pre sense basic are reversible and different from the single-use pyrotechnic pre-tensioners deployed during a crash. If no collision occurs, the electrical pre-tensioners retract and driving resumes as normal. Two levels of seatbelt tensioning are available from the system, depending on the criticality of the situation. The lower level can be disabled by the driver but the higher level always acts in highly critical situations. 

In cases where high lateral accelerations are detected pre sense basic also closes the side windows and the sunroof. This helps to prevent foreign objects coming into to the passenger compartment in the event of a side collision.