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This paper validates the single-track vehicle driver model available in PC-Crash simulation software. The model is tested, and its limitations are described. The introduction of this model eliminated prior limitations that PC-Crash had for simulating motorcycle motion. Within PC-Crash, a user-defined path can be established for a motorcycle, and the software will generate motion consistent with the user-defined path (within the limits of friction and stability) and calculate the motorcycle lean (roll) generated by following that path at the prescribed speed, braking, or acceleration levels. In this study, the model was first examined for a simple scenario in which a motorcycle traversed a pre-defined curve at several speeds. This resulted in the conclusion that the single-track driver model in PC-Crash yielded motorcycle lean angles consistent with the standard, simple lean angle formula widely available in the literature.

Many motorcycle crashes involve the motorcycle capsizing, impacting the ground, and sliding on the road surface. When performing speed calculations, the energy or speed loss for the ground impact and sliding phases may need to be calculated. To perform these calculations, the reconstructionist will typically determine the slide distance based on the physical evidence and then apply a range of decelerations over that distance based on test data in the literature. Decelerations can be selected for motorcycles with similar characteristics (crash bars, panniers, fairings, etc.) sliding on similar surfaces (asphalt, concrete, dirt, gravel, etc.). This approach is adequate but sometimes results in a wide range due to the variability in reported decelerations in prior studies. It could be helpful to narrow the likely range of decelerations, and thus, the speed range.

As a result of trauma to the circuit board or other damage to an airbag control module (ACM), electronic crash data recorded onto a passenger vehicle’s electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) chip may be inaccessible by traditional imaging methods and techniques, such as through a diagnostic link connector (DLC) or accessing the data directly from the ACM. Despite the potential damage to the subject module, electronic crash data may still be present on the module’s EEPROM chip. This paper explores and validates a methodology for the removal and reinstallation of a subject EEPROM chip using an identical undamaged exemplar airbag control module and a non-destructive clip-assisted method to gain access to the subject electronic crash data. ACMs were obtained from a 2016 BMW 740i, 2015 Toyota Corolla, 2014 Nissan 370z, 2006 Lexus IS350, 2015 Maserati Ghibli, and 2017 Audi A4. Each module was imaged prior to the chip swap procedure.

Previous studies have reported and validated equations for calculating the lean angle required for a motorcycle and rider to traverse a curved path at a particular speed. In 2015, Carter, Rose, and Pentecost reported physical testing with motorcycles traversing curved paths on an oval track on a pre-marked range in a relatively level parking lot. Several trends emerged in this study. First, while theoretical lean angle equations prescribe a single lean angle for a given lateral acceleration, there was considerable scatter in the real-world lean angles employed by motorcyclists for any given lateral acceleration level. Second, the actual lean angle was nearly always greater than the theoretical lean angle. This prior study was limited in that it only examined the motorcycle lean angle at the apex of the curves. The research reported here extends the previous study by examining the accuracy of the lean angle formulas throughout the curves.

The data obtained from event data recorders found in airbag control modules, powertrain control modules and rollover sensors in passenger vehicles has been validated and used to reconstruct crashes for years. Recently, a third-party system has been introduced that allows crash investigators and reconstructionists to access, preserve and analyze data from infotainment and telematics systems found in passenger vehicles. The infotainment and telematics systems in select vehicles retain information and event data from cellular telephones and other devices connected to the vehicle, vehicle events and navigation data in the form of tracklogs. These tracklogs provide a time history of a vehicle’s geolocation that may be useful in investigating an incident involving an automobile or reconstructing a crash. This paper presents an introduction to the type of data that may be retained and the methods for performing data acquisitions.

This paper presents a comprehensive literature review of original equipment event data recorders (EDR) installed in passenger vehicles, as well as a summary of results from the instrumented validation studies. The authors compiled 187 peer-reviewed studies, textbooks, legal opinions, governmental rulemaking policies, industry publications and presentations pertaining to event data recorders. Of the 187 total references, there were 64 that contained testing data. The authors conducted a validation analysis using data from 27 papers that presented both the EDR and corresponding independent instrumentation values for: Vehicle velocity change (ΔV) Pre-Crash vehicle speed The combined results from these studies highlight unique observations of EDR system testing and demonstrate the observed performance of original equipment event data recorders in passenger vehicles.