SAE 2002 Govt/Industry meeting - Chip Chidester


SLIDE 1:
MONITORING THE REAL WORLD CRASH PERFORMANCE OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED AIR BAG FEATURES


SLIDE 2:
OBJECTIVES OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM
 - exampine safety impact of rapidly changing technology in airbags
 - provide early detection of alleged or potential vehicle defects


SLIDE 3:
FRONTAL AIR BAG DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS
NCSA currently collects and distributes real world crash data in two major vehicle crash programs:
 - NASS-CDS: a national statistically sampled data base, currently collecting data on about 4,000 crashes each year at 24 locations around the U.S
 - SCI: collects approximately 200 crash invetigations annually of vehicles equipped with emerging technology in occupant protection


SLIDE 4:
OBJECTIVES OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM
Data collection for 2002
 - new variables and attributes
 - special crash investigations 100/year
 - alliance commitment to Congress


SLIDE 5:
ALLIANCE COMMITMENT
Blue Ribbon Panel
 - recommended: collecting data on late model vehicles equipped with advanced or redesigned occupant protection features involved in frontal crashes in 3 NASS PSU locations

www.highwaysafety.org/presentations/brp


SLIDE :
ALLIANCE COMMITMENT
- Data Collection (36 months - April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2005
- all researchers actively selecting cases
- 450 cases expected each year
- 1350 cases for the study


SLIDE 7:
OBJECTIVES OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM
Data Distribution for 2002
- preliminary NASS cases viewing available via the WWW (summer 2002) - updated filter system

- public access to Special Crash Investigations cases via the WWW (summer 2002)



SLIDE 8:
FRONTAL AIR BAG CATEGORIES FOR DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM
 - Sled Certified
	* redesigned (a/k/a depowered)
	* advanced features - multi-stage inflators, etc.
 - Advanced Certified
	* as certified advanced air bags come into the market (required in MY 04)


SLIDE 9:
ADVANCED OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM STUDY (AOPSS)
- The objective of the Advanced occupant Protection System Study (AOPSS) is to provide data that will assess the "real world" performance of vehicles equipped with advanced occupant protection system features in frontal crashes.

- the goal is to determine if they offer a greater measure of safety for children and out of position occupants while offering improved protection to adults in crashes of high severity


SLIDE 10:
ADVANCED OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM STUDY (AOPSS)
RESEARCH PRIORITIES:
 - air bag related injuries
 - out-of-position occupants
 - small statured adults
 - children
 - higher speed crashes (belted and unbelted)
 - unusual circumstances (with early identification of potential problems)


SLIDE 11:
MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR AOPSS SELECTION 
[vehicle diagrams]
2000 model year vehicle or newer involved in a frontal crash with a police reported crash configuration of 11, 12 or 01 o'clock, equipped with any advanced occupant protection system feature, and towed due to damage

SLIDE 12:
MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR AOPSS SELECTION 
vehicles may include one or more of the following features:
 - multi-stage inflators,
 - occupant sensors
	* spatial: sonic/infrared
	* bladder: weight sensors/load cells, etc
 - seat track sensors
 - systems that may provide automatic air bag suppression



SLIDE 13:
OTHER AOPSS ACTIVITIES
 - COORDINATION WITH INDUSTRY

working with crash investigators, engineers and designers

case by case evaluation on:
 - real world performance of the advanced occupant protection system technologies
 - EDR readouts


SLIDE 14:
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED:
 EDR DATA COLLECTION

the most effective method to observe and/or measure the performance of advanced occupant protection system features is through the EDR data


SLIDE 15:
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED:
 EDR DATA COLLECTION
 - our NASS researchers required more training in using CDR tool -> all NASS invetigators were given additional training in November 2001

 - only one CDR tool per site -> in 2002, a CDR tool was purchased for each NASS researcher
  

SLIDE 16:
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED:
 EDR DATA COLLECTION
 - enhancement of the crash reconstruction
	* crash pulse, time to deployment, restraint usage, etc.
 
 - improvement in data quality
	* used for validation of data
	* improves data completion


SLIDE 17:
 - we can only read a limited number of vehicles
 	* vetronix CDR tool for GM
	* NHTSA is involved with a beta test to read 2000 Ford Taurus/Sable
	* we need more manufacturers involvement
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED:
 EDR DATA COLLECTION


SLIDE 18:
	QUESTIONS?