Abstract

Optimizing Automotive Seating Position to Reduce Injury Severity in Short-Statured Drivers

Short-statured drivers are 47% more likely to be severely injured and 17% more likely to die in a car crash, due to insufficient vehicle safety guidelines as a result of continued use of physical crash test dummies with limited biofidelity.

Human participants were measured, focusing on the distance between the top of steering wheel and nose, middle of steering wheel and chest, and pelvic angle. Nonlinear finite element analysis frontal collision simulations were run for participants under 170cm, focusing on the interaction between dummy positioning and the seatbelt, steering column, and airbag.

Simulation data was analyzed to extract chest deflection, acceleration, and severity index, as well as head acceleration and injury criteria. This data was compiled into a composite injury score (CIS), a method developed to classify total injury score based on the injury outputs.

The first participant taken through the optimization process was the overall shortest participant, with some of the highest injury severity scores. When distance measurements were as close as possible to baseline and the pelvic angle was move back 18 degrees, injury severity decreased by 50% using CIS.

This data was used to create a prototype that collects the relevant distance and angle measurements using ESP32 microcontrollers, an ultrasonic rangefinder, and an accelerometer, sends them to the cloud where the optimal seating position is determined, and displayed in a mock dashboard to inform the driver if they are in the right position or prompt readjustment.

This research will increase people’s safety in their everyday lives.