WIAMan

High-Tech Test Lab Focuses on Saving Soldiers' Lives

The newest crash test dummy in development is actually a blast test dummy. WIAMan (Warrior Injury Assessment Manikin) is a ground-breaking anthropomorphic test device (ATD) being developed by the U.S. Army. It's the first test dummy designed specifically for vertical loading in under-body blast (UBB) scenarios, like the ones soldiers may experience in combat from IEDs. A key goal of the program is to develop a scientifically-valid injury criteria for blast testing of military ground vehicles. This test data will be the most advanced of its kind and will be used to develop new, safer vehicles and associated equipment to help reduce injury risk for warfighters. Another first coming out of this program is the high-tech data acquisition system that is entirely contained within the dummy, making it the first completely autonomous device of its kind.

WIAMan is a strategically orchestrated collaboration of government, academia and industry. The prime contractor to build both the manikin and the data acquisition system, and integrate them, is California-based Diversified Technical Systems. Known for its expertise in biomechanics and automotive crash safety testing, DTS manufactures miniature data recorders and sensors for test labs around the world. Since the project started in February 2015, two generations of prototypes called Technical Demonstrators have endured a grueling series of lab tests and blast event ‘ride-alongs’ in the field.