Evaluation of advanced air bag deployment algorithm performance using event data recorders

Gabler, Hampton C.; Hinch, John

Affiliations

¹Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

²U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Abstract

This paper characterizes the field performance of occupant restraint systems designed with advanced air bag features including those specified in the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 for advanced air bags, through the use of Event Data Recorders (EDRs). Although advanced restraint systems have been extensively tested in the laboratory, we are only beginning to understand the performance of these systems in the field. Because EDRs record many of the inputs to the advanced air bag control module, these devices can provide unique insights into the characteristics of field performance of air bags. The study was based on 164 advanced air bag cases extracted from NASS/CDS 2002-2006 with associated EDR data. In this dataset, advanced driver air bags were observed to deploy with a 50% probability at a longitudinal delta-V of 9 mph for the first stage, and at 26 mph for both inflator stages. In general, advanced air bag performance was as expected, however, the study identified cases of air bag deployments at delta-Vs as low as 3-4 mph, non-deployments at delta-Vs over 26 mph, and possible delayed air bag deployments.

Cited By (8)

Year	Entry
2019	Eboli MG, Maberry CM, Gibbs IA, Haddad R. Detecting potential vehicle concerns using natural language processing applied to automotive big data. In: Proceedings of the 26th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 10-13, 2019; Eindhoven, Netherlands.
2015	Davis ML, Vavalle NA, Gayzik FS. An evaluation of mass-normalization using 50th and 95th percentile human body finite element models in frontal crash. In: Proceedings of the 2015 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 9-11, 2015; Lyon, France.608-621.
2013	Kusano KD. Methodology for Determining Crash and Injury Reduction from Emerging Crash Prevention Systems in the U.S. [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; 2013.
2015	Tsoi AH-d. The Potential of Event Data Recorders to Improve Impact Injury Assessment in Real World Crashes [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; May 27, 2015.
2016	Chen R. Driver Behavior in Car Following: The Implications for Forward Collision Avoidance [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; June 1, 2016.
2016	Sandberg LM. Evaluation of Advanced Airbag Performance: Child Injury Exposure [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; June 2, 2016.
2017	Scanlon JM III. Evaluating the Potential of an Intersection Driver Assistance System to Prevent U.S. Intersection Crashes [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; March 24, 2017.
2017	Davis ML. Development and Full Body Validation of a 5th Percentile Female Finite Element Model [PhD thesis]. Winston-Salem, NC: Wake Forest University; January 2017.