Browse Topic: Occupant protection
Theory and principles of occupant protection for automobiles in rear-end collisions have experienced significant evolution over the decades. Performance of the seatback, specifically the stiffness of the structure, during such a collision has been a subject of particular interest and debate among design engineers, accident reconstruction experts, critics, etc. The majority of current seat designs rely on plastic deformation of the seatback structure to protect the occupant from the dynamics of the crash. In attempt to highlight and provide background information for understanding this subject, this work highlights significant events, research, and publications over the past five decades to illustrate how this subject, automobile design, government regulation and public opinion has evolved. It is observed that technology and design for improving rear-impact protection has received less attention than collisions of other principal directions of force. The different types of
The present research explores the potential of high-performance thermoplastics, Polymethyl Methacrylate and Polyurethane, to enhance the passive safety of automotive instrument panels. The purpose is to evaluate and compare the passive safety of these two materials through the conduct of the Charpy Impact Test, Tensile Strength Test, and Crush Test —. For this, five samples were prepared in the case of each material via injection moulding, which enabled reliability, and consistency of the findings. As a result, it was found that in the case of the Charpy Impact Test, the average impact resistance varies with PMMA exhibiting a level of 15.08 kJ/m2 as opposed to the value of 12.16 kJ/m2 for PU. The Tensile Strength Test produced the average tensile strength of 50.16 for PMMA and 48.2 for PU, which implied superior structural integrity under tension for the first type of thermoplastic. Finally, the Crush Test showed that PMMA is more resistant to crushes on average than PU with the
This SAE Standard describes guarding to help prevent hazardous machine movement caused by activation of the starter motor by bypassing the starter control system. This document is applicable to off-road, self-propelled work machines, as identified in SAE J1116, and agricultural tractors, as defined in ANSI/ASAE S390, which have the potential for hazardous machine movement as a result of bypassing the starter control system and powering of the starter motor.
The rapid evolution of new technologies in the automotive sector is driving the demand for advanced simulation solutions, enabling faster software development cycles. Developers often encounter challenges in managing the vast amounts of data generated during testing. For example, a single Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) test vehicle can produce several terabytes of data daily. Efficiently handling and distributing this data across multiple locations can introduce delays in the development process. Moreover, the large volume of test cases required for simulation and validation further exacerbates these delays. On-premises simulation setups, especially those dependent on High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, pose several challenges, including limited computational resources, scalability issues, high capital and maintenance costs, resource management inefficiencies, and compatibility problems between GPU drivers and servers, all of which can impact both performance and costs
Head injuries from interior impacts during vehicle accidents are a significant cause of fatalities in India. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2023 reveals that approximately 15% of the total 150,000 road fatalities were due to head impacts on vehicle interiors, resulting in about 22,500 deaths. Thus, head impact protection in a car crash is key during the design of vehicle interiors. IS 15223 and ECE-R21 provide specific guidelines for head impact testing of instrument panels and consoles in vehicles to ensure compliance with safety standards and minimize the risk of head injury during collisions. By systematically addressing each aspect of IS 15223 and ECE- R21 in the design, testing, and documentation phases, manufacturers can ensure that console armrests are optimized for safety. This approach not only helps meet regulatory standards but also enhances overall occupant protection in vehicles during collisions. The objective of this paper is to design a console
Effective thermal management is crucial for vehicles, impacting both passenger comfort and safety, as well as overall energy efficiency. Electric vehicles (EVs) are particularly sensitive to thermal considerations, as customers often experience range anxiety. Improving efficiency not only benefits customers by extending vehicle range and reducing operational costs but also provides manufacturers with a competitive edge and potential revenue growth. Additionally, efficient thermal management contributes to minimizing the environmental impact of the vehicle throughout its lifespan. Digital twins have gained prominence across various industries due to their ability to accelerate development while minimizing testing costs. Some applications have transitioned to comprehensive three-dimensional models, while others employ model reduction techniques or hybrid approaches that combine different modeling methods. The discovery of unknown working mechanisms, more efficient and effective control
Energy efficiency in both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV) is a strategic advantage of automotive companies. It provides a better user experience that emanates amongst others from the reduction in operation expenses, particularly critical for fleets, and the increase in range. This is especially important in EVs where customers may experience range anxiety. The energetical impact of using the air conditioning system in vehicles is not negligible with power consumptions in the range of kilowatts, even with a stopped vehicle. This becomes particularly important in areas with high temperature and humidity levels where the usage of the air conditioning systems becomes safety factor. In such areas, drivers are effectively forced to use the air conditioning system continuously. Hence, the air conditioning system becomes an ideal choice to deploy control strategies for optimized energy usage. In this paper, we propose and implement a control strategy that allows a
This SAE Standard is intended to provide personnel protection guidelines for skid steer loaders. This document is intended as a guide towards standard practice, but may be subject to frequent change to keep pace with experience and technical advances. This should be kept in mind when considering its use. This document provides performance criteria for newly manufactured loaders and it is not intended for in-service machines.
ZF rethinks safety with new airbags, belt tensioner. ZF knows that the steering wheel remains one of the most relevant components in an automotive interior, because this is where drivers have direct contact to the vehicle. As steering wheels become adorned with more functions than some drivers know what to do with, ZF put Marc Schledorn in charge of the teams rethinking how the driver airbag could operate in a world with ever-busier steering wheels. The solution is a new type of steering wheel airbag that ZF Lifetec (ZF's renamed Passive Safety Systems division) announced in June. Instead of moving through a thermoplastic airbag cover mechanically fixed in the center of the wheel, Schledorn told SAE Media, the new design positions the airbag on the top side of the steering wheel and then expands through the upper rim of the wheel when needed.
Background: The Indian automobile industry, including the auto component industry, is a significant part of the country’s economy and has experienced growth over the years. India is now the world’s 3rd largest passenger car market and the world’s second-largest two-wheeler market. Along with the boon, the bane of road accident fatalities is also a reality that needs urgent attention, as per a study titled ‘Estimation of Socio-Economic Loss due to Road Traffic Accidents in India’, the socio-economic loss due to road accidents is estimated to be around 0.55% to 1.35% of India’s GDP [27] Ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) accident data shows that the total number of fatalities on the road are the highest (in number terms) in the world. Though passenger car occupant fatalities have decreased over the years, the fatalities of vulnerable road users are showing an increasing trend. India has committed to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030. In this context, the automotive
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