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The paper presents a simulation methodology created to support an integrated safety system development process which was tested for the side impact collision load case. The methodology is based on the coupled and complementary use of two software packages: PreScan and Madymo. PreScan was utilized for designing two traffic scenarios and the sensing and control systems for the side collision recognition, while Madymo was utilized for assessing the effects of pre-crash deployment of thorax airbag. The collision conditions from the scenarios were used as input to define a Madymo side collision model of the host vehicle and to investigate and optimize several airbag deployment parameters: pre-crash deployment time, airbag permeability, vent hole size and vent hole opening time.

The protection of Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) remains one of the most challenging problems for our society and several governmental and consumer organizations have set targets to reduce the VRU fatality and injury rates. The automotive industry is, therefore, developing pedestrian and cyclist detection systems that combine pre-crash sensing, risk estimation and vehicle dynamics control (braking, steering) with the objective to meet the challenging pedestrian and cyclist accident reduction targets set by various governments. The complexity of VRU detection makes the development process of these systems a complicated and time-consuming activity. Simulation software can help to overcome these difficulties by providing an efficient and safe environment for designing and evaluating VRU safety systems. This paper outlines the use of a software packages that provide the ability to cover all critical aspects of VRU safety design.