A crash recorder function is included in the airbag sensor in Volvo cars. The recorder's performance is validated in laboratory tests. In accidents with airbag deployment the impact data is stored in a memory. So far, about 250 accident impact pulses have been collected, 32 of these were selected for further study. Analysis of the pulses offers new insights into the collision dynamics. Impact severity indices were studied. Data now permits a comparison between occupant simulation models and several violence descriptors. Even if actual injuries are too limited to permit a deeper analysis now, it is expected that in the future the results will increase the knowledge of the relationship between impact severity and occupant injury. (A)
Abstract