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This paper presents the rationale behind the development of a shoulder belt load cell suitable for application in racings cars. The design of the load cell and the operational parameters necessary for a research-quality measurement device for biomechanics research in racing car crashes and the performance of the device in sled tests are described.

With the adoption of the California Low-Emission Vehicle Regulations and the associated lower emission standards such as LEV (Low-Emission Vehicle in 1990), ULEV (Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle), and LEV II (1998 with SULEV-Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle), concerns were raised by emissions researchers over the accuracy and reliability of collecting and analyzing emissions measurements at such low levels. The primary concerns were water condensation, optimizing dilution ratios, and elimination of background contamination. These concerns prompted a multi-year research program looking at several new sampling techniques. This paper will describe the cooperative research conducted into one of these new technologies, namely the Bag Mini-Diluter (BMD) and Direct Vehicle Exhaust (DVE) Volume system.

For decades the Automotive Industry has purchased emission test equipment to meet EPA requirements. Existing systems utilize gas analyzers that provide analog outputs to computers or programmable controllers that, in turn, digitize the signals and communicate them to the cell computer. These systems use complex computer hardware and software systems to collect more than 25 channels of analog signals, convert them to digital, and report them. This architecture is very difficult to maintain and requires excessive effort to modify. The systems do not have any provisions for self-diagnostics or control charting. In 1996 Quantum Controls, Inc. and Chrysler Corporation, Chelsea Proving Grounds began work on the next generation emission test cell. The design goals were: Speed of response to be maximized. The time to digitize the signal and communicate it to the cell computer for all analyzers in a bench must be at least 20Hz with a goal of 30Hz.