This paper focuses on the work of the SAE ATD Chest Deflection Task Team, chaired by Mr. Joseph Balser. Data are presented, and discussed, on the most promising methods that were tried, as well as an examination of these methods.

An abbreviated version of their mission statement summarizes their work, “The ATD (Anthropomorphic Test Dummy) Chest Deflection Task Team will focus on the development and validation of a new transducer or transducers that will accurately measure ATD rib deflections and velocities in three axes when the ATD is exposed to belt and/or air bag testing. The first phase of work will be to improve and commonize deflection transducer hardware being used today. Phase two will be to develop and validate an advanced ATD chest deflection transducer that will effectively produce valid measurementsa t up to 18 metersp er seconda t SAE filter class 600.”