Citation

Sugimoto T, Yamazaki K. Proc. Int. Tech. Conf. Enhanced Safety Vehicles 2005; 2005: 7p.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, In public domain, Publisher National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The number of fatalities from automotive traffic accidents in Japan is on a downward trend. However, the number of injuries is tending to increase. Consequently, there is a need for further safety measures to reduce the number of casualties. In order to achieve progress on vehicle safety measures, it is essential to develop human body models for use as tools to quantify injury parameters. The crash test dummies and impactors in common use, however, require consideration of durability and reusability. This gives rise to structural differences from the human body, and makes it difficult to evaluate any but preexisting injury parameters. Recent years, therefore, have seen the use of simulated models of the human body generated by computer. These models take advantage of the ability to model the structure of the human body and mechanical properties in minute detail, and are applied to explain the injury mechanisms and to evaluate vehicle collision safety. Joint cooperative projects have been initiated by automobile manufacturers, related research institutes, and other such organizations, particularly in the United States and Europe, bringing advances in development of models that more closely resemble the human body. Given these circumstances, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA) has initiated activities for development and research of computer-modeled human bodies in impact biomechanics, which can analyze pedestrian and occupant injury, through a system of cooperation between industry and academia for 3 years. This report introduces the substance of those activities, their status, and some initial results.