General Motors Corp. is the first U.S. automaker to install advanced, or so-called "smart," air bags in some of its vehicles, a year before federal requirements to do so take effect, the automaker said, according to the Detroit News. Sensors embedded in the front passenger's seat control advanced air bags. The sensor system automatically would disable the front passenger-side air bag if it detects a child weighing less than 56.9 pounds, a rear-facing or front-facing child seat or a booster seat, or no occupant. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations require automakers to phase in advanced air bag installation over three years: 20 percent of their production by the beginning of the 2004 model year, 65 percent by the start of the 2005 and 100 percent by the start of the 2006.