Babyark (Coral Gables, Fla, U.S.) recently announced the launch of the babyark convertible car seat at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The car seat introduces a holistic approach to safety, focusing on the materials it is made of — which include composites — and the technology that has been added to it. Developed by Shy Mindel, an aeronautical engineer turned parent, the seat is introducing a new standard of safety for children.

“I was surprised to learn that the most important people in our lives, our children, sit in safety seats primarily made out of plastic and Styrofoam,” Shy Mindel, CEO of babyark, says. “While safety features for adults in vehicles have evolved dramatically over the past 10 years, child passenger safety technology has remained stagnant. Babyark is approaching safety through the hardware, the actual seat and the software, including the safety sensors that communicate with the app. The result is a car seat that takes a holistic approach to safety.”

Made of anti-crash materials, the babyark energy absorption technology is built around a high-strength steel SafeCoil shock-absorbing system that gently slows the seat’s forward momentum during a crash. Carbon fiber and D3O, a technologically advanced impact absorbing polymer tested in extreme military applications, complement the babyark suite of safety solutions. The smart seat also uses IoT technology to supply caregivers with real-time indications regarding child passenger safety at all times. With 14 sensors embedded in the base of the seat, it alerts the driver via the personal babyark app if the seat is installed correctly, if the child is buckled or if the child is forgotten in the vehicle. The app then provides instructions on how to ensure that everything is correct. The app is available on Android and iOS.    

“Car seats are a major source of anxiety for parents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 59% of car seats are installed incorrectly,” Yifat Ryce, chief marketing officer of babyark and licensed CPST, notes. “Safety starts with installation, and the babyark app uses technology to simplify everything possible for caregivers, enabling them to do it right the first time and every time.”

Babyark can be used for infants and children from four to 65 pounds and allows for extended rear facing up to 55 pounds.