Crash test dummies impact auto industry
The point behind bio-fidelity dummies is that under impact, they will mimic human motion as closely as possible. To this effect, dummies have been developed that benefit from advanced multi-body technology. This technology allows for more accurate deformation behaviour to be recorded in specific anatomical locations. The head, neck, shoulder, thorax, abdomen, pelvis and femur are all critically observed in order to extract injury risk factors. The basis for developing this technology was to assess the impact a side collision has on a mid-sized male dummy. Both the ISO and the European Experimental Safety Committee recommended requirements by which bio-fidelity could be observed. The result was to derive calibration procedures, and to have them incorporated into the international standards for bio-fidelity dummy manufacture and testing requirements. In addition, the results have become a reference for both government and the auto-industry to ensure global standards for side impact analysis testing with dummies. Both as statistical methods to determine risk injury curves, as well as to determine future and current criteria for side impact dummies. The dummies can be used by associate research industries concerned with human safety such as those in the aerospace and other transport industries. Testing with dummies provides greater understanding on human behaviour in such violent conditions and a more comprehensive and universal agreement on required safety feature standards.
