Long before the law required it, or used female impact testing manikins as a model for frontal and lateral collision simulations. It is about 1.5 meters tall, weighs 49 kg and in the younger generation’s manikins, it has many sensors in various parts of the body, reaching up to 150 measuring points. For 20 years, Hybrid III 5, called the “little doll”, has sat in the driver’s seat, passenger and rear seats in frontal impact tests as well as the traditional “male” dummy, Hybrid III 50. This means, that the company began using the female dummy long before this was officially required by law. This manikin reproduces female anthropometry, with the similar chest and bones of the pelvis. According to statistics, only 5% of Americans are shorter or weaker. Today, evaluations by consumer protection organisations and various laws around the world include specifications for testing with “females” of this size. Another type of dummy Mercedes-Benz has been using in impact tests for two decades is the SID-II female dummy. With anatomy similar to that of Hybrid III 5, it is specifically designed for lateral collisions. Unlike the US, however, its use is not yet required by law in Europe. 120 manikins undergo up to 900 impact tests each year Safety is a key component of Mercedes-Benz’s DNA, which is why he is considered the inventor of modern car safety, remaining a pioneer in this area to date. The basis for the company’s commitment is the security strategy in real life: for more than 50 years, the company’s proprietary accident investigation centre investigates accidents involving Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The aim is to understand how accidents occur and what advanced security systems could prevent them. In addition, findings from actual accidents can be used to determine the requirements for impact tests. The Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Safety Technology Center at Sindelfingen performs up to 900 impact tests and 1,700 slide tests (sled tests) each year. These tests include 120 manikins in 21 different versions – from infants, children of all ages, “small” women to the average size and weight of a man, as well as manikins of large, heavy men. The results of impact testing and accident research are used to develop new security technologies and improve existing systems. Passenger simulations primarily calculate how a manikin would behave in a vehicle. Mercedes-Benz works systematically in the so-called Human Body Models (HBMs), which are designed to represent human anatomy – bones, muscles and organs – with even greater detail. Compared to the manikins, using HBMs in impact tests researchers have the opportunity to evaluate the actual type of injury of a particular part of the body and not only the likelihood of serious injury. Among other uses, Mercedes-Benz uses HBMs to evaluate brand’s innovative restraint systems, such as PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side.
Female genus impact tests dummy in Mercedes-Benz
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