THE RESEARCH SAFETY VEHICLE (RSV) IS A LIGHT -WEIGHT SAFETY CAR CAPABLE OF PROTECTING ITS FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN CRASHES UP TO 80 KM/H (50 MPH). IT WAS DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED (UP TO PROTOTYPE VEHICLE STAGE) BY MINICARS, INC. OF GOLETA, CALIFORNIA. THE RSV GAINS ITS CRASHWORTHINESS FROM A MONOCOQUE STRUCTURE AND ADVANCED AIR CUSHION RESTRAINTS. THE CAR HAS NO FRAME, BUT IS CONSTRUCTED ENTIRELY FROM THIN GAUGE SHEET METAL COMPARTMENTS WHICH ARE FOAM-FILLED FOR ENERGY ABSORPTION. THE COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN OF THE STRUCTURE PRECISELY LOCATED THE COMPARTMENTS FOR MAXIMUM RIGIDITY (WITH MINIMUM WEIGHT) UNDER NORMAL USE, AND FOR ENERGY ABSORBING CRUSHABILITY DURING CRASHES. SOFT PLASTIC EXTERIOR FASCIAS AFFORD SIGNIFICANT PROTECTION TO PEDESTRIANS AND REDUCE DAMAGE IN LOW SPEED ACCIDENTS. A "HIGH TECHNOLOGY" VERSION OF THE CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHICH IS SHIFTED BY COMPUTER, A RADAR-BASED CRUISE CONTROL (FOR SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCES), ANTI-SKID BRAKES AND A COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM WHICH APPLIES THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY WHEN A COLLISION IS INEVITABLE. THERE ARE PLANS (IF CAPITAL CAN BE RAISED) TO MANUFACTURE A PRODUCTION ENGINEERED CAR BY 1985. (A) FOR COVERING ABSTRACT OF SECTION 3 SEE IRRD 266048. FOR THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF THE CONFERENCE SEE IRRD 266046.
Abstract