Volvo's pedestrian detection on the XC90 excels in IIHS 35 mph tests

IIHS reported on 7 August 2018 that, in its 35 mph track tests of an XC90, Volvo's automatic braking with pedestrian detection proved extremely capable of avoiding hitting a pedestrian.

  • Not rated society

    Pedestrians stand to gain, but IIHS reports research track tests without figures and no crash outcomes.

Depth runs from 1, a convenience or time saved, to 5, a life or a livelihood preserved.

Status
Reported benefit.
Evidence

foundstudiedreportedclaimed

An independent assessment report supports the benefit.

Compared with

The Uber test vehicle, an XC90 whose Volvo system was disabled under computer control. Assumed without a measurement.

The system’s part
Not isolated. IIHS ran its research tests with the system on and reports no run without it. The sidebar does not describe the system's sensors or software or say whether its detection learns from data. The same article mentions artificial intelligence only for Uber's self-driving system.
Not yet checked
LimitsCosts and harmsLearns from dataLater outcome

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Benefit type
Increased Product Safety
System
Volvo automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection system, as fitted to the XC90
Made by
Volvo Cars
Used by
Volvo Cars (fitted to the XC90)
Where
United States
Stage
In routine use
Date
, when the source was published
Kind
Aggregate result
Broad benefit
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Collections
Scrutiny and findings, Cross-border records
Last revised
1 November 2026

Sources

  1. Assessment report, by authors with no tie to the system.

    Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Fatal Uber crash shows risks of testing on public roads. Status Report Vol. 53, No. 4, 7 August 2018, pp. 8-10, sidebar Volvo XC90 on p. 9.

    IIHS doesn't yet rate autobrake systems for pedestrian detection but has done extensive research tests. In 35 mph track tests of an XC90, the Volvo system proved extremely capable of avoiding hitting a pedestrian.

Details

AI system

Workflow

IIHS ran research track tests of an XC90 at 35 mph. On conventional Volvos, the system is on by default.

Follow-up

Conditions for replication

The system must be enabled, since Volvo's functions were disabled when Uber's test vehicle drove under computer control. The pedestrian is in the car's path in a situation like those that IIHS tested.

Entry details

Sector

Road vehicle crash avoidance.

Purpose

Volvo Cars built its automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection system to prevent or mitigate crashes with pedestrians.

31 more questions not yet checked

model, release, provider, role, configuration, inputs and outputs, autonomy, human oversight, AI contribution, beneficiaries, reach, distribution and access, duration, every measurement question, every money question, ownership and control, dependencies, cross-border connections, geopolitical implications, replication attempts, availability, institutional decision, grounds, action and result, success criterion, every evidence question, observed or intended, alternative assessments, related entries, other identifiers, category mappings.

Cite this record

Peter H. Vartanian. (2026). Volvo's pedestrian detection on the XC90 excels in IIHS 35 mph tests (AIBD-1108). Artificial Intelligence Benefits Database, edition of 1 November 2026. https://petervartanian.xyz/aibd/records/AIBD-1108.html (archived at https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/AADSII, version 7.0)

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