Crash Victim Simulation - A First Step in Child Auto Safety

The use of Crash Victim Simulation (CVS) computer programs has become more and more important in highway safety research. These programs in the past were primarily used to study the interactions of a dummy with the vehicle seat and belt system. Now because of the computer technology boom more powerful computer systems and their supporting software are available to more researchers at a reasonable cost. This has stimulated CVS program usage in other areas of highway safety research, such as pedestrian impacts, dummy design, vehicle interior design, and child restraint system design and evaluation.

This paper discusses the roll of CVS computer programs in child automotive safety. Examples of how the MADYMO CVS program has been used to determine feasibility, design, optimization, patent right definition, and improved performance of child restraint systems are presented.