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Benchmark testing of existing seat designs reveals poor performance in low-speed rear impacts. In tests according to the test procedure proposed by GdV, ETH and Autoliv, the neck injury criterion NIC exceeds the limiting value of 15 for almost all seats without a CSD protection system. As only few new car models offer this, a system was developed and tested for aftermarket fitting. The Aftermarket Anti Whiplash System, AWS, consists of a yielding device which is fitted to the seat rails and allows the whole seat to rotate and move backwards. This reduces thorax acceleration and thus the NIC value. As the force required to actuate the device depends on the position of the seat, the system offers optimum protection for large and small occupants. Tests with rear impact dummies (BioRID and HIII(TRID)) show a noticeable reduction in NIC and head rebound speed compared to the standard seat. Loadings to the neck at delta v 15 km/h with AWS are in the same magnitude as at 9 km/h without AWS.

Low-mass vehicles (LMV) are characterized by a total mass of 500 - 600 kg and an overall length of 2.5 m - 3.0 m. In order to provide sufficient transportation capacity, they should be relatively wide (1.7 m) and high (1.6 m). Occupant safety associated with such vehicles poses unique problems. According to published accident and injury statistics, a negative correlation exists between vehicle mass and injury severity in car-to-car crashes. In part, this finding can be attributed to the fact that small vehicles today are designed according to conventional design strategies involving however only a small frontal deformation zone and minimal side protection. For a LMV which is even smaller and lighter than present “small” cars another solution has to be found. A number of frontal and side impacts staged by our group with the aid of a LMV test device along with a mathematical model analysis indicate that a Rigid-Belt Body (RBB) represents a concept which is well suited for LMVs.