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Improved positioning procedures for 6YO and 10YO ATDs based on child occupant postures
Matthew P Reed1, Sheila M Ebert-Hamilton, Miriam A Manary
1University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, 2901 Baxter Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. mreed@umich.edu
Stapp Car Crash Journal
|February 22, 2007
Summary
New positioning procedures for child anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) improve crash test realism. This study refined ATD placement to better mimic children's postures in vehicles, enhancing safety evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Automotive Safety
- Human Factors Engineering
Background:
- Anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) are crucial for evaluating vehicle safety, but their accurate representation of human occupants, especially children, is vital.
- Previous research established positioning procedures for adult ATDs based on human volunteer data.
- Accurate ATD positioning is essential for reliable crash test outcomes and effective child restraint system design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and refine positioning procedures for six-year-old and ten-year-old child ATDs.
- To improve the representation of child occupant postures in vehicle crash testing.
- To enhance the accuracy of crash test data for child safety evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed posture data from 62 children (18-45 kg) to determine hip/head locations and pelvis/head angles.
- Applied standardized methodology to six-year-old (6YO) and ten-year-old (10YO) Hybrid-III ATDs in six test conditions.
- Collected data on vehicle seats with and without belt-positioning boosters across varying seat back angles (19, 23, 27 degrees).
Main Results:
- Children's sitter-selected postures showed hips further forward and more reclined pelvis angles than standardized postures.
- The 6YO ATD on a booster closely matched standardized child data but deviated in sitter-selected postures (pelvis rearward, head higher).
- Without a booster, the 6YO ATD showed significant deviations in hip and head locations compared to children in sitter-selected postures; 10YO ATD head was notably forward.
Conclusions:
- Current ATD positioning procedures require modification to accurately reflect child occupant postures.
- Adjustments including a foam block behind the pelvis and modified neck angle for the 10YO ATD were proposed.
- Preliminary evaluations suggest the revised procedures yield ATD postures that better represent child passenger positioning in vehicles.
