At InCabin USA, Aptiv has demonstrated its newly-launched Advanced Occupancy Classification (AOC) system, described as the industry’s first camera-only occupant detection system.
The solution aims to improve safety, simplify vehicle design and reduce system costs. It is powered entirely by an in-cabin camera, removing the need for traditional in-seat hardware.
AOC is a software-based solution that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to classify vehicle occupants according to factors such as height, weight and body position. This information can be used to support airbag deployment decisions.
Matthew Cole, Senior Vice President, Sensors and Compute, Aptiv said:Aptiv’s Advanced Occupancy Classification represents a strategic leap forward in cabin innovation. By moving to a camera-only architecture, we are leading a new generation of intelligent, software-defined safety features enabled through a single sensor. AOC provides automakers with a smarter, more scalable foundation for the future of the in-cabin experience, delivering the proven performance, safety and reliability they expect from Aptiv.
Unlike conventional pressure-based occupant detection systems, AOC can operate using many existing interior vehicle cameras. The system is designed to distinguish between adults, children, infants in carriers and inanimate objects, while also assessing posture, size, seating position and orientation. This information enables the airbag system to suppress deployment or adjust inflation force and timing where appropriate, helping to reduce the risk of injury for occupants, particularly children, smaller individuals and those who are not seated in an optimal position.
Advanced Occupancy Classification achieved full accuracy across federal regulatory test scenarios, including assessments related to occupant protection in frontal crashes under FMVSS 208 requirements, supporting compliance with safety regulations in multiple markets.
Supporting Smart Cabin Functions
By removing in-seat airbag detection hardware, AOC reduces the number of components required within the vehicle. A single interior camera can replace multiple sensors and associated wiring, potentially reducing bill-of-materials costs by up to 40 percent while lowering assembly complexity and supporting deployment across different vehicle platforms.
The simplified architecture may also provide vehicle manufacturers with greater design flexibility, including thinner seat structures and easier integration of features such as seat heating, cooling and massage functions.
Manufacturers can also use the same interior camera to support a range of additional safety and convenience features, including seatbelt-status monitoring, driver attention monitoring, gesture recognition, body-pose analysis and hands-on-wheel detection.
Aptiv’s machine-learning and sensor-fusion capabilities combine inputs from multiple sensors, AI models and vehicle data sources to provide stable occupant classification. The system can also receive over-the-air updates, enabling manufacturers to adapt functionality as regulations and requirements change, potentially reducing redesign costs and extending the useful life of existing hardware.
Advanced Occupancy Classification forms part of Aptiv’s broader efforts to support the development of safer, more connected and cost-efficient vehicles.
AOC was demonstrated at InCabin USA from 9–11 June 2026 at Huntington Place in Detroit. Aptiv’s display also featured driver and cabin monitoring technologies, the Cockpit Sound Suite and Android Automotive Framework.
