The 4activeOD newborn dummy has become the first such dummy to be certified under the Euro NCAP Child Presence Detection (CPD) Protocol Version 1.3 (2024).
This certification confirms the dummy’s ability to support the development and validation of in-cabin monitoring systems, which are designed to detect unattended children in vehicles. The 4activeOD-newborn simulates a newborn’s breathing and micro-movements. As a result, it enables reliable testing across radar, infrared and camera-based detection technologies. Its lifelike skin texture and realistic thermal signature also aim to enhance system calibration and performance.
Industry importance and safety standards
The dummy was developed as part of the CPD Consortium, a collaborative initiative involving over 34 OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, research institutions and safety experts. The consortium aims to define and standardize effective, real-world solutions for child presence detection.
With upcoming regulations in the EU and other regions requiring CPD systems in new vehicles, certified tools like the 4activeOD-newborn are vital for compliance, type approval and consumer trust.
The 4activeOD product family includes dummies representing newborns, one year olds, three year olds (coming soon) and six year olds. This allows for comprehensive testing across a range of child ages and body types.
In related news, Euro NCAP has flagged safety flaws in new models and highlighted top-rated vehicles
