Prototype Design and Testing of a Global Energy Absorber Concept for Coupled Pedestrian and Vehicle Protection

Most automotive bumper energy absorbers (EA) that are on the market today are designed to meet safety regulations with respect to individual geographic locations. North American markets will require that the design should satisfy the FMVSS, CMVSS and possibly IIHS regulations that require the EA to protect the car. The European and Asia-Pacific markets have a different set of requirements that focuses also on the safety of the pedestrian. These regulations are projected to become increasingly more stringent in their requirements for protection of the pedestrian lower leg in the coming years. There has also been discussion in the North American automotive industry about the merits of incorporating some measure of pedestrian protection into their systems as well. However, the difficulties of designing a bumper system that is rigid enough to protect the vehicle and, at the same time, compliant enough to protect a pedestrian raise questions as to whether these ideas are compatible. In this paper, the design and testing of a global energy absorber prototype providing pedestrian protection and vehicle protection is explored.