NTL Record

Title Development and Evaluation of Anticipatory Crash Sensors for Automobiles
Record ID 49099
Personal Name
Creator
Hopkins, John B.; Holmstrom, F. Ross; Hazel, Morrin E.; Abbott, R.
Source 304p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publication Date 19740201
Language English
Abstract This report delineates the preferred means, potential effectiveness, and estimated costs of carrying out anticipatory sensing of automobile collisions. Actuation of passive restraint systems requires only a small advance warning to extend the protection of such safety devices to impact speeds of 30 to 60 mph - a range encompassing a large number of fatal and severe-injury accidents. This examination of means of achieving this function indicates that radar is the most promising crash sensing technique. Design, construction, and extensive test of prototype systems, accompanied by specific studies of component cost and reliability, show that an OEM price of $20 per unit (in volume of 10 to 6th power per year) should be attainable for systems exhibiting extremely high electronic reliability. However, due to inherent limitations of radar, such sensors are likely to detect only 60% to 80% of the major collision objects encountered. A very low rate of inadertent actuations is possible, occurring only in the course of certain minor (but high-speed) collisions. Potential benefits of full implementation are estimated to exceed presentation of 5000 deaths and 200,000 injuries annually. However, ultimate viability of anticipatory sensing systems will depend upon the use and effectiveness of improved vehicle structures and passive restraint systems.
Rosap ID dot:10577
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10577
TRT Terms Crash injury research; Safety equipment; Constraints; Crash sensors; Prototype tests; Radar; Fatalities; Restraint systems
Classification NTL - INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS - INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS;
NTL - INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS - Crash Prevention and Safety
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number DOT-TSC-NHTSA-73-6
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/49000/49000/49099/developmentevalu00hopk.pdf
Alternative URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/49000/49000/49099/DOT-TSC-NHTSA-73-06.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository