Transportation Expertise

Occupant Protection Systems

UMTRI researchers have experience assessing the effectiveness and injury potential of occupant protection systems using dynamic sled testing, laboratory impactors, and component-level testing using crash test dummies, human surrogates, and custom-made test equipment.

Selected projects in this area:

Rear-Impact Protection for Wheelchair-Seated Vehicle Occupants
Sponsor: University of Louisville
Investigator: Lawrence Schneider
01/01/2006 - 12/31/2007

Emerging Issues in Child Passenger Safety
Sponsor: George Washington University
Investigator: Miriam A. Manary
08/01/2003 - 07/31/2005

Development of Test Procedures and Fixtures for Evaluating Wheelchairs
Sponsor: RERC WTS
Investigator: Lawrence Schneider
12/01/2006 - 11/30/2011

Development of Surrogate Child Restraints
Sponsor:
Investigator: Matthew Reed
00/00/0000 - 00/00/0000

Estimating Infant Head Injury Criteria and Impact Response
Sponsor: General Motors
Investigator: Kathleen DeSantis Klinich
11/01/1997 - 03/31/2000

Evaluation of CRS in Side Impact
Sponsor: George Washington University
Investigator: Kathleen DeSantis Klinich
07/01/2004 - 06/30/2005

Airbag Skin Abrasions
Sponsor:
Investigator: Matthew Reed
00/00/0000 - 00/00/0000

Airbag Thermal Burns
Sponsor:
Investigator: Matthew Reed
00/00/0000 - 00/00/0000

Evaluation of 4-point Belt Restraint in Frontal Impacts
Sponsor: Ford Motor Company
Investigator: Jonathan Rupp
09/01/2003 - 06/30/2008

Investigation of Airbag-Induced Forearm Fractures
Sponsor:
Investigator: Lawrence Schneider
00/00/0000 - 00/00/0000

Evaluation of the Performance of a Four-Point Belt System in Far-Side Lateral Impact
Sponsor: Ford Motor Company
Investigator: Jonathan Rupp
10/01/2005 - 12/31/2006

Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center for Wheelchair Transportation Safety
Sponsor: National Institute on Disabiity and Rehabilitation Research
Investigator: Lawrence Schneider
11/01/2001 - 10/31/2011

Child Restraint Testing
Sponsor: Various
Investigator: Miriam A. Manary
01/01/1980 - 01/01/2010

Wheelchair/Wheelchair Tiedown and Occupant Restraint Testing
Sponsor: Various
Investigator: Lawrence Schneider
01/01/1985 - 01/01/2010

Occupant Classification Anthropomorphic Test Device (OCATD)
Sponsor:
Investigator: Matthew Reed
00/00/0000 - 00/00/0000