Currently, over 20 percent of traffic fatalities in the United States are pedestrians. Very little, if any, protection is offered to the pedestrian by present day automobiles whose exterior design is dictated by exterior damage protection performance requirements. During the Research Safety Vehicle (RSV) program, a soft front bumper system was developed for the Calspan-Chrysler RSV that provides improved levels of pedestrian protection and exterior vehicle damage protection. This light-weight bumper system consists of a flexible fascia filled with a low-density, energy-absorbing urethane foam.
Contained herein is a discussion of the rationale for selecting this type of a system as well as the design considerations and analytical methods used to develop the soft bumper system. The results of some preliminary performance tests are included.