UMTRI Project

Child Restraint Testing

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

Child restraint systems have been the subject of research and testing at The University of Michigan since the late 1960s. Staff expertise covers both the engineering and human factors aspects of the design and use of effective child restraint systems. Dynamic tests of child restraint systems are performed on an impact sled according to both U.S. and Canadian regulations. A wide range of anthropomorphic dummies and instrumentation are available for use in child restraint testing. Electronic signals generated by the accelerometers, velocity probes, and/or load transducers are digitized live using a TDAS onboard data acquisition system and analyzed on a workstation. All test signals are filtered according to the requirements of SAE J-211, and signal output conforms to the SAE J-1733 sign convention. Results, such as impact speed, head injury criterion (HIC), neck forces, or belt loads, are available within minutes. Visual documentation of the crash event is provided by high speed (1000 frames per second) digital video cameras from both side and overhead directions.