2023-2024

Interactions Between Aircraft Airbags and Child Occupants

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

A variety of new air bags are being introduced into commercial aircraft cabins, with no currently available data to determine if any of the air bags offer protection to children, whether they might injure children, or whether they can be used in conjunction with child restraint systems (CRS) on aircraft. This study aims to provide these data through static installations and dynamic crash testing.

Pediatric Shoulder Anthropometry and Improvement of Belt Fit Evaluation Tools

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

The external contours of the shoulders of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) are over-simplified and lack important anatomical details that are important to determine optimal shoulder belt placement. This study aims to develop an improved shoulder form to better represent children’s shoulders during belt fit evaluations using
current ATDs.

Interactions Between Rearward-Facing Child Restraint Systems with a Support Leg and the Center Console in Frontal Impact Sled Tests

Principal Investigator: Declan Patton, PhD

Installing a child restraint system (CRS) in the rear center seating position of a vehicle is common, especially rearward-facing CRS, as it is anecdotally considered the safest position. Only one study has investigated the interactions between rearward-facing CRS models and the center console during frontal impacts, which found that CRS contact with a center console resulted in elevated peak resultant head accelerations.

Identifying Key Eye-Tracking Metrics Associated with Cognitive Control While Driving, Validated by MEG Neuroimaging: Phase III

Principal Investigator: Thomas Seacrist, MBE

Recent developments in eye-tracking and neuroimaging techniques are paving the way for novel approaches to understanding cognitive workload and cognitive errors during driving. Building on prior “MEG + Driving + Eye-Tracking” work, this study aims to (1) identify eye-tracking metrics that proxy increased cognitive control in a new cognitively challenging unanticipated steering task and (2) compare these eye-tracking metrics and frontal lobe…

Identifying Key Eye-Tracking Metrics Associated with Cognitive Control While Driving, Validated by MEG Neuroimaging: Phase III

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Walshe, PhD

Recent developments in eye-tracking and neuroimaging techniques are paving the way for novel approaches to understanding cognitive workload and cognitive errors during driving. Building on prior “MEG + Driving + Eye-Tracking” work, this study aims to (1) identify eye-tracking metrics that proxy increased cognitive control in a new cognitively challenging unanticipated steering task and (2) compare these eye-tracking metrics and frontal lobe…

Identifying the Relationship Between Scanning and Executive Functions Among Young Drivers

Principal Investigator: Thomas Seacrist, MBE

One aspect of driving that is both critical for crash avoidance and influenced by executive function is scanning, or the pattern of eye glances used to detect hazards. Previous research has shown that drivers with poor executive function are less likely to detect road hazards; however, these studies do not identify the underlying scanning patterns contributing to this poor hazard detection.

Posture and Belt Fit of Children in Reclined Vehicle Seats

Principal Investigator: Gretchen Baker, PhD

With increased possibilities of advanced and autonomous driver assistance systems, future vehicle occupants may begin to engage in a wider range of activities and assume a larger range of postures, including reclined vehicle seatback orientations. However, no study has yet evaluated the influence of reclined vehicle scenarios on the static posture and belt fit for children.

2022-2023

Understanding Small Occupant Kinematic Response in Reclined Seats in Lateral Oblique Impacts by Testing the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD)

Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD

Utilizing the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) anthropomorphic test device (ATD), this study evaluates the injury and submarining risk of reclined children in lateral oblique vehicle crashes, with and without a booster seat.

Effect of a Pre-Pretensioner on Motion of Booster Seated Children in a Pre-Crash Maneuver

Principal Investigator: Madeline Griffith, MS

This study seeks to evaluate the influence of a pre-pretensioner equipped seat belt on booster-seated child volunteers during sled-simulated pre-crash maneuvers.

Quantifying the Q3s ATD Responses in CRS Harness Misuse Cases in Far-side Impacts on the FMVSS 213 NPRM Test Bench

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

This study examines the effects of 5-point harness misuse on the kinematic and kinetic response of a Q3s anthropomorphic test device (ATD) restrained in a forward-facing child restraint system on the new FMVSS 213 NPRM test bench.

Booster Features That Influence Pediatric Posture and Comfort During Extended Time Periods

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This study aims to determine how specific booster seat features, including seat pan geometry (booster height and length) and the inclusion of armrests, influence occupant comfort in belt-positioning booster seats (BPBs).

Quantifying Belt Tension in CRS Installations with Lock-off and Tensioning Features

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This study aims to quantify how much tension built-in tensioning features, such as a door or clasp that closes over the seat belt, produce on the belt.

Frontal-Oblique Impact Sled Tests of a Rearward-Facing Child Restraint System With and Without a Support Leg

Principal Investigator: Declan Patton, PhD

This study aims to quantify the head and neck injury metrics associated with anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) in rear-facing child restraint system models for frontal-oblique impacts.

Strength of Underfloor Compartments When Loaded with a Support Leg During a Frontal Crash

Principal Investigator: Declan Patton, PhD

This study aims to quantify the strength of child restraint system support legs and underfloor compartments using drop tests.

Identifying Key Eye-Tracking Metrics Associated with Cognitive Control While Driving, Validated by MEG Neuroimaging (Year 2)

Principal Investigator: Thomas Seacrist, MBE

This study builds upon prior CChIPS work investigating cognition-based driving errors and seeks to identify eye tracking metrics associated with frontal lobe cognitive responses during a lead car following task.

Individual Differences in Driving: Phase I

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Walshe, PhD

This project aims to develop, test, and finalize all protocols and recruitment processes to be used in a future randomized control trial of modern driver training in the context of Graduated Driver Licensing.

Effects of Head Restraint Interference on CRS Performance in Frontal and Side Impacts

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

This project aims to study the effects of head restraint interference on dynamic child restraint system (CRS) performance by conducting sled tests simulating frontal and far-side impacts.

2021-2022

IIHS Side Impact Barrier 2.0: Exploring the Effect of the Upgraded Barrier Impact on Naturalistically Seated Pediatric Occupants in Booster CRSs

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

The goal of this study is to utilize computational modeling to examine the kinematics and kinetics of naturalistically booster-seated pediatric human body models as per The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's new side impact test protocol.

Naturalistic Seating Postures in Frontal Impacts - Translating the Effect of ATD Seating Posture to Booster CRS Sled Testing Using the Q6 ATD

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

This project aims to examine the effect of different seating postures on the kinematic and kinetic response of optimal and sub-optimal belt fit using a booster-seated Q6 anthropomorphic test device (ATD) and to quantify the variation across postures and child restraint systems in a frontal impact.

Interactions Between Rear-Facing Child Restraint Systems and the Front Row Seatback in Frontal Impact Sled Tests

Principal Investigator: Declan Patton, PhD

The goals of this project are to quantify the head and neck injury metrics of the Q1.5 anthropomorphic test device (ATD) in a rear-facing infant child restraint system (CRS) and the Q3 ATD in a rear-facing convertible CRS during frontal impacts for position (i.e., braced, touching or 25 mm gap) and support leg use (i.e. with or without).