2020-2021

Shoulder Belt Interaction for Booster-Seated ATDs

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

The goal of the study is to evaluate dynamic outcomes of belt-positioning booster (BPB)-seated ATDs for various initial belt fit conditions and crash directions, in order to identify relationships between static belt fit and occupant posture with kinematic and injury outcomes during crash.

Understanding Reclined Small Occupants’ Kinematics in Frontal Crashes by Testing the LODC

Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD

This project aims to characterize kinematics and kinetics of the LODC when the seatback of a production vehicle seat is reclined during sled-simulated frontal vehicle crashes. A secondary aim of this project is to understand the influence of the booster seat on kinematics and kinetics of the LODC during sled-simulated frontal vehicle crashes.

Head Contacts in Rear-seated Pediatric Occupants When the Front Seat is Reclined in AEB Scenarios

Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD

This project aims to identify the likelihood and characteristics of head contact of a child seated behind a reclined front occupant in an autonomous driving seating configuration. Different combinations of front seat recline and track positions for the front occupant will be considered. The research team will investigate how the presence, type, and dimensions of a booster seat influence head contact by a rear-seated child occupant during an automatic emergency braking (AEB) event and how…

Repeatability of the CRABI 12MO, CRABI 18MO, and Hybrid III 3YO ATD Neck Response During Forward and Rear Facing Frontal Impacts

Principal Investigator: Yun Seok Kang, PhD

This study aims to provide head/neck response data of the unmodified and modified CRABI and HII 3YO ATDs in forward- and rear-facing frontal impact scenarios using a mini-sled system.

Rear-seated Occupant Kinematics and Kinetics in Small and Moderate Overlap Crashes: Restraint Characteristics and Occupant Interaction

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

The goal of this study is to systematically explore the kinematics and kinetics of adjacent rear-seated pediatric occupants under different vehicle seat belt restraint characteristics, child seats, and seating positions in small and moderate overlap crashes.

Analysis of Sensor Technologies for Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention Based on Real-world Data

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

This project focuses on pediatric vehicular heatstroke and aims: 1) to review real-world vehicular heatstroke cases caused by different circumstances and to determine prevention and alerting technologies, and 2) to document, relevant to heatstroke prevention, different educational efforts undertaken to inform parents and caregivers, and strategies used by vehicle and child seat assessment programs.

Comparison of CRS Installation Methods and Misuse During Far Side Impact Sled Testing

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

In this study, far side sled testing will be performed in late model year production vehicle seats for rear-facing CRS, forward-facing CRS, and boosters using a variety of proper and improper installation methods: seat belt alone, LATCH alone (with and without top tether), and LATCH and seat belt together. The broad objective of this work is to determine whether installation method affects far side crash performance so that CRS and vehicle manufacturers can develop informed guidelines…

Evaluation of Rigid vs. Flexible LATCH: Fit-to-Vehicle with Consumer Performance and Feedback

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the rigid LATCH system for use within U.S. vehicles. The research team will evaluate a convenience sample of vehicles from the current U.S. market for their readiness for rigid LATCH CRS installations across a range of seating positions. A group of volunteer caregivers will install a CRS into a vehicle using three different types of LATCH system in order to evaluate consumer performance and feedback related to various LATCH styles.

Integrating Eye Tracking with Real-Time Neuroimaging and Simulated Driving: A New Paradigm for Auto Industry Testing

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Walshe, PhD

This study aims to integrate eye tracking technology into the millisecond-sensitive neuroimaging methods (magnetoencephalography: MEG) and simulated driving paradigm, and test the feasibility and synchronization of the eye tracking, MEG imaging, and simulated driving data in a baseline sample of teen drivers.

CRS Fit on Aircraft

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

This study aims to document compatibility concerns between CRS and aircraft seats and belts, including FMVSS 213 inversion test apparatus. The results will provide benchmark data for manufacturers and will develop guidelines for families who are preparing to fly with a CRS.

2019-2020

A Naturalistic Seating Study of Children in Booster Seats with the PIPER Human Body Model; Frontal and Oblique Impacts in the Vehicle Environment with SCAB and AEB

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

The first goal of this study is to systematically evaluate the naturalistic seating position of the 6YO and 10YO using the PIPER human body model to understand their response (kinetics and kinematics) in frontal and frontal-oblique impacts. A second goal is to use real-world seating conditions, such as a vehicle model with the front seats, SCAB and AEB pulse using a combination of sled testing and computational modeling.

ATD Responses in Rear-facing/Forward-facing Configurations in Frontal and Rear Impact Sled Tests

Principal Investigator: Declan Patton, PhD

This project aims to quantify the kinematics and kinetics of the Q6 and Q10 ATD installed in rear-facing/forward-facing configurations in frontal and rear impact sled testing.

Characteristics of Crashes Represented by the FMVSS 213 Crash Pulse

Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD

The goal of the proposed study is to understand the functional relationship between the kinematics and kinetics of the ATD, the acceleration of the vehicle/sled, and the resulting injury criteria and CRS structural performance.

Quantitative Characterization of AEB Pulses Across the Modern Fleet: Insights on the Relationship Between AEB Pulse Characteristics and Occupant Safety

Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD

The goal of the proposed study is to compare and characterize automatic emergency braking (AEB) pulses of different vehicles currently on the road in order to understand the type of loading environment to which vehicle occupants are being exposed and if there will be the need to have more specific common standards for AEB features.

Development of Media Ready Files from Prior CChIPS Funded Research for Education and Marketing

Principal Investigator: Suzanne Hill, BA

This proposed project will curate data from CChIPS-funded child seat/vehicle related testing, particularly computational modeling projects, and produce video material that can be disseminated by CHOP and OSU Outreach through digital channels, by IAB member companies, as well as through key stakeholder partners that educate and advocate for child injury prevention.

Belt Fit and Belt Torso Contact of Children on Belt-positioning Boosters

Principal Investigator: Randee Hunter, PhD

The goal of the study is to evaluate the newly proposed metrics of belt fit (namely, percent belt torso contact and gap characteristics) along with previously published methods using child volunteers on a variety of modern belt-positioning booster seats.

Evaluation of LATCH vs. Non-LATCH Installations for Boosters in Frontal Impacts

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

The goal of this project is to collect dynamic sled data and computer simulation data to determine how booster occupants might benefit or not benefit from LATCH installations.

Implementation of Interactive CRS Education Station

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This project aims to refine the interactive CRS education system using information gathered during pilot testing and to deploy the system in a supervised public location.

Epidemiologic Investigation of Child Restraint Installation Position and Serious Injury among Children in Motor Vehicle Crashes

Principal Investigator: Rachel Myers, PhD

The goal of this study is to create a unique source of epidemiologic crash data that enables novel description of use and installation patterns of child restraints among crash-involved children and— following linkage with hospital discharge and death certificate data—novel description of child occupant injury outcomes based on restraint use and installation (rear- vs. forward-facing).

In-Depth Analysis of Crash Causation Factors Using SHRP2 (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Thomas Seacrist, MBE

Utilizing data from the Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) Naturalistic Driving Study, this study will quantify the behavioral, environmental, and experiential factors contributing to rear-end striking crashes among teen, young adult, and older drivers. The long-term objective is to inform the development of driver-specific Advanced Driver Assistance Systems that account for the unique errors exhibited by these risky driving groups.