Autoliv Inc, the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, has strengthened its capabilities for developing knowledge within Driver Behaviour, Autonomous Driving, and Real Life Safety and appointed Chris Urmson and Natasha Merat.

Autoliv has a long-standing tradition of leveraging external competences and of forming close ties with distinguished persons in order to add to the company’s development. The company’s Research Advisory Board consists of seven people, with backgrounds ranging from technical development to research. With Chris Urmson and Natasha Merat onboard, Autoliv gives an indication of their own view of the direction of a company leading within automotive safety systems, according to a press release

Jan Carlson, Autoliv’s chairman, president, and CEO said, “It is no secret that the developments within autonomous driving are going to change traffic behaviours and entail completely new challenges. I am very glad that we have managed to close ties with two great people within automated driving and driver behaviour.”

Natasha Merat is a PhD in psychology and associate professor and group leader in safety and technology at University of Leeds. Her key interest lies in human factors of highly automated driving and driver behaviour, especially driver distraction and the influence of new technologies in driving.

Chris Urmson is a PhD in Robotics and a former faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University and director of Google’s self-driving car project. (GK)