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Raw Blame History

Every Test Has a Story

How Tragedy, Data, and Engineering Created Modern Crash Testing

DTS Internal Presentation - Ben (Application Engineer)

Duration: 45 minutes

CENTRAL THESIS

"Every crash test exists because people were dying in a specific way - and we didn't know why until we created a test to find out."

This presentation walks through each major crash test mode - not as a technical specification, but as a story. Each test represents:

A problem - People dying in a way we didn't understand
A discovery - Data that revealed what was happening
A solution - A test that drove engineering change
A result - Lives saved

The pattern repeats: Tragedy → Data → Test → Engineering → Lives Saved

DTS's role: We capture the data at the heart of every test.

PRESENTATION STRUCTURE

Chapter	Time	Topic	Key Story
Opening	3 min	The Pattern	Every test has an origin
Chapter 1	10 min	Frontal Impact	From no restraints to the small overlap shock
Chapter 2	7 min	Side Impact	The neglected crash mode
Chapter 3	5 min	Rollover & Roof	When SUVs flipped the script
Chapter 4	4 min	Fire & Whiplash	The hidden killers
Chapter 5	5 min	Active Safety	From surviving crashes to preventing them
Chapter 6	5 min	Pedestrian Protection	When the car hits you
Chapter 7	5 min	Beyond Automotive	Helmets, sports, same physics
Closing	3 min	The Pattern Continues	What's next
Q&A	5+ min	Discussion

Total: ~50 minutes (adjust by trimming detail in any chapter)

OPENING: THE PATTERN

SLIDE 1: Title Slide

Title: "Every Test Has a Story" Subtitle: How Tragedy, Data, and Engineering Created Modern Crash Testing Presenter: Ben, Application Engineer Company: Diversified Technical Systems

SLIDE 2: The Pattern

Content:

Every crash test exists because people were dying.

The pattern is always the same:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                         │
│   TRAGEDY                                               │
│   People die in a specific way                          │
│              ↓                                          │
│   INVESTIGATION                                         │
│   Researchers ask "why?"                                │
│              ↓                                          │
│   DATA                                                  │
│   Testing reveals the mechanism                         │
│              ↓                                          │
│   STANDARD                                              │
│   A test is created to measure it                       │
│              ↓                                          │
│   ENGINEERING                                           │
│   Manufacturers design to pass                          │
│              ↓                                          │
│   LIVES SAVED                                           │
│   The specific death mode decreases                     │
│              ↓                                          │
│   NEW TRAGEDY EMERGES                                   │
│   The cycle repeats...                                  │
│                                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

We're going to walk through each test mode and tell its story.

Speaker Notes:

"Every crash test you've ever heard of exists for a reason. Not because engineers thought it would be interesting - but because people were dying in a specific way, and nobody understood why. The pattern is always the same: tragedy, investigation, data, a test standard, engineering response, lives saved. Then a new tragedy emerges that the existing tests don't catch - and the cycle repeats. Today I'm going to walk you through each major test mode and tell you its story. This isn't just technical specs - it's how we learned to save lives."

SLIDE 3: The Tests We'll Cover

Content:

Chapter	Tests	The Story
Frontal Impact	FMVSS 208, NCAP, IIHS Moderate & Small Overlap	From no restraints to the small overlap shock
Side Impact	FMVSS 214, Pole Test, IIHS Side	The neglected crash mode
Rollover & Roof	FMVSS 216, IIHS Roof	When SUVs flipped the script
Fire & Whiplash	FMVSS 301, IIHS Head Restraint	The hidden killers
Active Safety	AEB, Pedestrian AEB, Headlights	From surviving crashes to preventing them
Pedestrian Protection	Euro NCAP Pedestrian, Headform/Legform	When the car hits you
Beyond Automotive	NOCSAE, Drop Tower, Linear Impactor	Same physics, different arena

Each test = a chapter in the story of "we didn't know this was killing people until we looked."

Speaker Notes:

"Here's our roadmap. We'll cover frontal impact - the grandfather of all crash tests - including the dramatic small overlap story from 2012. Then side impact, which was ignored for decades. Rollover and roof strength, which became urgent when SUVs took over. The hidden killers - fire and whiplash - that don't get headlines but still hurt people. And finally, active safety - the revolution from 'protect people in crashes' to 'prevent the crash entirely.' Each test is a chapter. Each chapter has a story. Let's begin."

CHAPTER 1: FRONTAL IMPACT

"The Crash Everyone Thinks About"

SLIDE 4: Frontal Impact - The Starting Point

Content:

Why frontal crashes get all the attention:

Most common crash configuration
Highest energy (combined closing speeds)
First crash mode studied systematically
Where seatbelts and airbags matter most

The tests we'll cover:

Test	Introduced	Speed	What It Changed
FMVSS 208	1968	30 mph	Seatbelts, then airbags
NHTSA NCAP	1979	35 mph	Consumer ratings
IIHS Moderate Overlap	1995	40 mph	Structural integrity
IIHS Small Overlap	2012	40 mph	Everything

Speaker Notes:

"Frontal crashes are where crash testing began, and they're still the foundation. When two vehicles collide head-on, the energies combine. A 40 mph crash into a stationary barrier is equivalent to two 40 mph cars hitting each other. This is where seatbelts, airbags, and crumple zones do their work. We'll cover four frontal tests, each building on the last - from the first federal requirements in 1968 to the small overlap shock of 2012."

SLIDE 5: FMVSS 208 - Where It All Began (1968)

Visual:

!assets/1957_buick_dashboard.jpg Before FMVSS 208: Solid steel dashboard, no restraints, no protection

Content:

The Problem (Pre-1968):

No federal safety requirements at all
Seatbelts optional (and rarely installed)
Dashboards were solid steel and chrome
Steering columns were rigid spears
Over 1 million people killed by steering columns alone

The Solution:

1966: National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
1968: FMVSS 208 takes effect
Required seatbelt anchorages in all new cars
Later: 30 mph frontal barrier test added

What FMVSS 208 Drove:

1968: Seatbelts required
         ↓
1984: "Automatic restraint" required (airbag OR auto-belt)
         ↓
1998: Frontal airbags mandatory
         ↓
2000: Advanced airbags (size-sensing, depowered)

Speaker Notes:

"Before 1968, there were no federal safety requirements. None. Seatbelts were optional accessories. Dashboards were solid steel. The steering column was a rigid metal shaft pointed directly at the driver's chest. Over a million people were impaled by steering columns before anyone made them collapsible. FMVSS 208 changed that. It started with seatbelt requirements and evolved to require airbags. But the road to airbags was not smooth - it took 30 years of fighting."

SLIDE 6: The Airbag Wars (1970-1998)

Content:

The 30-Year Fight:

Year	Event
1970	NHTSA proposes airbag requirement
1972	GM offers airbags as option - few buyers
1976	Industry lobbies, requirement delayed
1977	Joan Claybrook (NHTSA) pushes mandate
1981	Reagan administration rescinds mandate
1983	Supreme Court rules rescission was arbitrary
1984	Compromise: "automatic restraint" required
1990s	Automatic seatbelts prove unpopular; airbags win
1998	Finally: Frontal airbags mandatory

Why Industry Fought:

Cost concerns ($300-500 per vehicle)
Liability fears
"Consumers don't want them"
Technical concerns about reliability

What Actually Happened: Costs dropped. Technology improved. Airbags now save ~2,800 lives/year.

Speaker Notes:

"The airbag story shows how long it takes to implement even obvious safety improvements. NHTSA proposed airbags in 1970. They weren't mandatory until 1998 - 28 years later. The industry fought every step. Costs too high. Technology not ready. Consumers don't want them. Every argument you hear today about new safety tech was made about airbags. And every argument was eventually proven wrong. Airbags now save nearly 3,000 lives per year in the US alone."

SLIDE 7: The Depowering Crisis (1990s)

Content:

The Unintended Consequence:

Early airbags were designed for the worst case: unbelted adult male.

Maximum inflation force
Deploy fully in all crashes
Assumed occupant was far from airbag

The Problem:

Year	Airbag Deaths	Victims
1990	1	First recorded death (child)
1996	26	Mostly children, small women
1997	53	Peak deaths from airbags

What Went Wrong:

Children in front seats (close to airbag)
Small women sitting close to steering wheel
Unbelted occupants sliding forward pre-crash
Airbag deployed with lethal force before occupant was in position

The Fix (1998-2000):

"Depowered" airbags - reduced inflation force
Weight sensors to detect occupant size
Suppression systems for small occupants
Passenger airbag cut-off switches
Aggressive "kids in back" campaigns

Today: Airbag deaths under 10/year. Airbag saves ~2,800/year. Net positive.

Speaker Notes:

"But airbags had a dark chapter. Early bags were designed to protect an unbelted adult male - so they deployed with maximum force. For children and small adults sitting close to the airbag, this force was sometimes fatal. In 1997, 53 people were killed by the airbag itself. The fix was 'depowered' airbags with lower inflation force, plus sensors to detect occupant size and suppress deployment when a child is present. Today, airbag deaths are under 10 per year while saves are nearly 3,000. The data told us something was wrong. Better data gave us the fix."

SLIDE 8: NHTSA NCAP - Consumer Power (1979)

Content:

The Innovation: FMVSS 208 was pass/fail at 30 mph. What if we tested at 35 mph and published the results?

Joan Claybrook's Idea:

Test vehicles ABOVE the minimum standard
Create comparative ratings (like Consumer Reports)
Let consumers make informed choices
Create market pressure beyond regulation

Industry Reaction:

"Unfair to compare different classes"
"Star ratings are misleading"
"It will confuse consumers"
Lobbied to kill the program

What Actually Happened:

NCAP launched 1979, still running today
"5-star safety rating" became marketing gold
Manufacturers compete for top ratings
Model for Euro NCAP, IIHS, and programs worldwide

The Data Impact: Public data created accountability. Manufacturers couldn't hide behind minimum compliance.

Speaker Notes:

"FMVSS 208 set the floor - the minimum standard. But Joan Claybrook wanted to show consumers which vehicles exceeded the minimum. She created NCAP - test at 35 mph instead of 30, and publish star ratings. Industry fought it viciously. Said it was unfair, misleading, confusing. But NCAP survived and thrived. Today, a 5-star safety rating is marketing gold. Manufacturers compete for top ratings. Public data created accountability. This model spread worldwide - Euro NCAP, IIHS, and others all followed."

SLIDE 9: IIHS Moderate Overlap (1995)

Visual:

!assets/iihs_frontal_crash_test.jpg IIHS moderate overlap: 40% of vehicle into deformable barrier

Content:

The Problem with Full Frontal:

NHTSA test: 100% of vehicle hits barrier
Forces distributed across entire front structure
But real crashes are rarely "full frontal"
Only 25% of real frontal crashes involve full overlap

The European Research: 1980s-90s studies showed:

Offset crashes more common
Offset crashes more deadly (forces concentrated)
Full frontal test didn't predict offset performance

The IIHS Innovation (1995):

40% of vehicle width strikes barrier
Barrier is deformable (mimics another car's front)
Tests structural engagement on ONE side
Measures survival space, not just dummy numbers

The Shockers: Some vehicles that earned 5 stars in NHTSA NCAP performed poorly:

Structures collapsed asymmetrically
A-pillars folded into occupant space
Footwell intrusion trapped legs

The Result: Manufacturers redesigned front structures. Longer crumple zones. Asymmetric load paths. Intrusion-resistant footwells.

Speaker Notes:

"By 1995, vehicles were doing well in NHTSA's full frontal test. But IIHS asked a question: how often do real crashes involve perfect full frontal overlap? The answer: only 25% of the time. Most crashes are offset - you hit another car at an angle, or strike a tree with one side. European research showed offset crashes were more deadly because forces concentrated on one side. So IIHS created the moderate overlap test - 40% of the vehicle hits a deformable barrier. Some vehicles that earned 5 stars in NHTSA's test performed poorly. The test exposed a gap. Manufacturers redesigned."

SLIDE 10: IIHS Small Overlap - The Game Changer (2012)

Visual:

!assets/small_overlap_test.jpg Small overlap: Only 25% of vehicle strikes rigid barrier

Content:

The Gap: By 2012, vehicles performed well in:

NHTSA NCAP (100% overlap)
IIHS Moderate Overlap (40% overlap)

But IIHS crash data showed:

Fatal frontal crashes still occurring
Many involved narrow overlap: trees, poles, corners of other vehicles
Forces were bypassing the main structural rails

The Physics: At 25% overlap:

Main frame rails NOT engaged
Forces go through wheel and suspension
Wheel can be pushed into footwell
Completely different load path than 40% or 100%

The 2012 Shock:

IIHS tested 11 midsize luxury vehicles:

Rating	Vehicles
Good	Acura TL, Volvo S60
Acceptable	Infiniti G
Marginal	Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus IS, Lexus ES
Poor	Lincoln MKZ, Buick Regal, Volkswagen CC

BMW, Mercedes, Audi - all Marginal or Poor.

Speaker Notes:

"2012 was a watershed moment. IIHS introduced the small overlap test - only 25% of the vehicle hits a rigid barrier. The results shocked everyone. These were luxury vehicles - BMW, Mercedes, Audi - that earned top marks in every other test. And they were Marginal or Poor in small overlap. The structures had been designed for 40% and 100% overlap. At 25%, the forces bypassed the frame rails entirely. The wheel got pushed into the footwell. A-pillars rotated in unexpected ways. These 'safe' cars had a critical blind spot."

SLIDE 11: The Small Overlap Response

Content:

Industry Reaction:

Initial denial ("test isn't realistic")
Then rapid engineering response
Complete structural redesigns

What Had to Change:

Component	Change
Wheel well	Structural members added outboard of rails
A-pillar	Reinforced connection to hinge pillar
Firewall	"Blocking" structures to redirect forces
Door hinges	Strengthened to prevent door opening
Footwell	Additional intrusion resistance

The Timeline:

Year	Small Overlap Performance
2012	Most vehicles Poor or Marginal
2014	Mixed results - some improve
2016	Most new designs earn Good
2017	IIHS adds passenger-side test (prevent asymmetric design)
2020	Small overlap "Good" is baseline expectation

Five years. From widespread failure to widespread success.

The Data Lesson: Consumer testing can drive faster change than regulation. Public embarrassment is a powerful motivator.

Speaker Notes:

"The response was swift. Within five years, most vehicles earned 'Good' ratings. Manufacturers added structural members outboard of the frame rails, reinforced A-pillars, created blocking structures. In 2017, IIHS added the passenger-side test because some manufacturers had 'gamed' the test by only reinforcing the driver's side. The small overlap test is the clearest example of consumer testing driving rapid engineering change. Public embarrassment works. When BMW and Mercedes are rated 'Marginal' on the evening news, they fix it fast."

SLIDE 12: Chapter 1 Summary - Frontal Impact

Content:

The Evolution:

Test	Year	Problem It Solved
FMVSS 208	1968	No restraints at all
NHTSA NCAP	1979	No way to compare vehicles
IIHS Moderate	1995	Offset crashes missed by full frontal
IIHS Small	2012	Narrow impacts missed by 40% test

Lives Saved:

Seatbelts: ~15,000/year
Airbags: ~2,800/year
Structural improvements: Thousands more

The Pattern: Each test exposed a gap the previous test missed. Each gap was filled by engineering. The cycle continues.

What's Next?

Oblique impacts (angled crashes)
Compatibility (protecting smaller vehicles)
Rear seat occupants (historically neglected)

Speaker Notes:

"Let's recap frontal impact. We went from no requirements to seatbelts to airbags to structural designs that can handle any overlap angle. Each test exposed a gap. Each gap got filled. Seatbelts save 15,000 lives a year. Airbags another 2,800. Structural improvements save thousands more. What's next? Oblique impacts, vehicle compatibility, rear seat protection. The cycle continues."

CHAPTER 2: SIDE IMPACT

"The Door That Wasn't a Barrier"

SLIDE 13: Side Impact - The Neglected Crash

Content:

The Statistics:

Side impacts: ~25% of all crashes
Side impact fatalities: ~30% of all crash deaths
More deadly per crash than frontal

Why Side Crashes Are Deadlier:

Minimal crush space (door → occupant is inches)
No crumple zone to absorb energy
Direct loading to torso and head
Pre-2000: basically nothing between you and the other car

The History of Neglect:

Era	Frontal Protection	Side Protection
1968	FMVSS 208 (seatbelts)	Nothing
1979	NCAP ratings	Nothing
1990	Airbags spreading	First dynamic test
1995	IIHS moderate overlap	Nothing new
2003	-	IIHS side test

Side impact got serious attention 25 years after frontal.

Speaker Notes:

"Side impacts are only a quarter of all crashes - but they're 30% of fatalities. Why? In a frontal crash, you have the entire front of the car to absorb energy. In a side crash, there's just a door. Inches between you and the other vehicle. For decades, side protection was an afterthought. Frontal got seatbelts in '68, airbags by the '90s. Side didn't get a serious dynamic test until 1990 - and even then, it was minimal. IIHS didn't add a side test until 2003. Twenty-five years behind frontal."

SLIDE 14: FMVSS 214 - Finally, a Side Test (1990)

Content:

The Original Test:

Moving deformable barrier (MDB) strikes stationary vehicle at 90°
Test speed: 33.5 mph
SID (Side Impact Dummy) measures rib deflection, pelvis loads

What It Required:

Door intrusion limits
Rib deflection limits
Pelvis force limits

What It Drove:

Side door beams (steel reinforcement in door)
Improved door structure
Better door latches (stay closed in crash)

What It Didn't Address:

Head protection (no requirement)
Narrow object impacts (poles, trees)
The rise of SUVs/trucks (taller fronts)

The Pole Test Addition (2007): Recognizing that many side crashes involve narrow objects:

254mm (10") diameter pole
20 mph impact
Specifically targets head protection
Drove adoption of side curtain airbags

Speaker Notes:

"FMVSS 214 finally brought dynamic side testing in 1990. A barrier strikes the side at 33.5 mph. This drove adoption of side door beams - steel reinforcement in the door. But the original test had gaps. No head protection requirement. No narrow object test. And the barrier simulated an average car - not the SUVs and trucks that were taking over the roads. The pole test was added in 2007: a narrow pole hits the door at 20 mph. This specifically targets head protection and drove adoption of side curtain airbags."

SLIDE 15: The Side Airbag Revolution

Content:

Before Side Airbags: Your protection in a side crash was:

The door (thin, minimal structure)
Your own body
That's it

The Evolution:

Year	Innovation
1995	Volvo introduces first side torso airbag
1998	First side curtain airbags (head protection)
2003	IIHS side test launched - accelerates adoption
2007	FMVSS 214 pole test requires head protection
2010	Side curtain standard on most new vehicles

What Side Airbags Do:

Type	Protection
Torso (seat-mounted)	Ribs, pelvis, spine
Curtain (roof-mounted)	Head, prevents ejection
Combo	Both in one system

The Data:

Side airbags reduce driver death risk by 37% (IIHS)
Head-protecting airbags reduce death risk by 52%
Now standard equipment - but wasn't until tests demanded it

Speaker Notes:

"Before side airbags, there was nothing between your ribs and the door. Volvo pioneered the first side torso airbag in 1995. Curtain airbags - the ones that drop from the roof - came in 1998. But adoption was slow until IIHS added side testing in 2003 and FMVSS 214 added the pole test in 2007. Now side curtain airbags are standard on virtually every new vehicle. IIHS data shows they reduce death risk by over 50% when they protect the head. Tests drove adoption."

SLIDE 16: IIHS Side Test - Raising the Bar (2003 & 2021)

Visual:

!assets/iihs_crash_hall.jpg IIHS test facility - where ratings drive engineering

Content:

The 2003 Test:

Moving barrier at 31 mph
SID-IIs dummy: 5th percentile female (not male!)
Why female? Smaller occupants have less cushioning from structure
Barrier simulated a car/small SUV

The Choice to Use a Small Female Dummy: IIHS deliberately chose to protect vulnerable occupants, not "average" males.

The 2021 Update: The vehicle fleet changed. SUVs and trucks are now the majority.

Barrier weight increased: 4,200 lbs (was 3,300 lbs)
Barrier height increased: Taller profile
Speed increased: 37 mph (was 31 mph)

The 2021 Results: Many vehicles that earned "Good" under old test dropped to lower ratings:

Side structures designed for old barrier
New, bigger barrier exposed gaps
Manufacturers redesigning again

The Lesson: Tests must evolve as the vehicle fleet changes.

Speaker Notes:

"IIHS introduced their side test in 2003 with a deliberate choice: use a small female dummy, not a male. Why? Smaller occupants have less space between them and the door. They're more vulnerable in side crashes. In 2021, IIHS updated the test because the vehicle fleet changed. SUVs and trucks are now the majority of vehicles sold. The old barrier simulated an average car. The new barrier is heavier, taller, faster - simulating a modern SUV. Many vehicles that earned 'Good' before dropped to lower ratings. The test had to evolve with the fleet."

SLIDE 17: Chapter 2 Summary - Side Impact

Content:

The Evolution:

Test	Year	What It Changed
FMVSS 214	1990	Door beams, basic structure
FMVSS 214 Pole	2007	Side curtain airbags
IIHS Side	2003	Small female protection
IIHS Side Update	2021	Redesign for SUV/truck threat

Key Insight: Side protection lagged frontal by 25 years. The door that separated you from death was basically just sheet metal until the 1990s.

Lives Saved: Side airbags: ~500-700 lives/year (and growing as fleet turnover continues)

What's Next:

Far-side impacts (crashes on opposite side)
Better protection for rear-seat side occupants

Speaker Notes:

"Side impact protection lagged frontal by a quarter century. The door was basically sheet metal until we started requiring door beams, then side airbags, then curtain airbags. Each test pushed the bar higher. And when the vehicle fleet changed - more SUVs and trucks - the test had to change too. The pattern continues: next frontiers are far-side impacts and rear-seat side protection."

CHAPTER 3: ROLLOVER & ROOF

"When the Sky Falls"

SLIDE 18: Rollover - The Disproportionate Killer

Content:

The Statistics:

Rollovers: Only 3% of crashes
Rollover fatalities: 30% of crash deaths

Why Rollovers Kill:

Multiple impacts as vehicle tumbles
Occupants not restrained against a surface (can move around cabin)
Ejection: 77% fatal (vs. ~1% if kept inside)
Roof intrusion crushes survival space

What Makes Vehicles Roll:

High center of gravity
Narrow track width
Tire failure (Firestone/Explorer scandal)
Loss of control at speed
"Tripping" on curbs, soft shoulders

The SUV Problem (1990s-2000s): SUVs had inherently higher rollover risk:

Built on truck frames (high floor)
Designed for off-road (high ground clearance)
Narrow relative to height
Often overloaded

Speaker Notes:

"Rollovers are only 3% of crashes but cause 30% of fatalities. The physics are brutal. The vehicle tumbles, occupants get thrown around inside or ejected entirely. Ejection is 77% fatal. And when the roof crushes, it destroys survival space. SUVs made this worse - they have high centers of gravity and narrow track widths. The Ford Explorer/Firestone scandal in 2000 killed over 200 people when tire tread separation caused rollovers."

SLIDE 19: FMVSS 216 - Roof Strength (1973 → 2009)

Visual:

!assets/roof_strength_test.jpg Roof crush test: Plate pressed against roof rail

Content:

The Original Test (1973):

Static test: Metal plate pressed onto roof
Required: Roof withstands 1.5× vehicle weight
Applied at windshield/roof junction
Only one side tested

The Advocacy Battle: Consumer groups argued for decades:

1.5× is far too weak
Real rollovers involve multiple impacts
Roofs were collapsing in survivable crashes
Should be 4× or higher

The 2009 Upgrade: After years of lobbying and litigation:

Standard doubled to 3× vehicle weight
Both sides of roof tested
Phase-in period for compliance

What Changed in Vehicles:

Stronger B-pillars
Reinforced roof rails
Boron steel and ultra-high-strength steel
Roof now integral to structural safety cell

Speaker Notes:

"The roof strength standard was set in 1973 at 1.5 times vehicle weight - and didn't change for 36 years. Advocacy groups pushed for higher standards, showing real-world rollovers where roofs collapsed into survival space. In 2009, the standard finally doubled to 3 times vehicle weight, and both sides must now be tested. This drove use of ultra-high-strength steel and completely changed how roofs are engineered. But IIHS pushed further."

SLIDE 20: IIHS Roof Ratings - Pushing Beyond

Content:

The IIHS Approach: FMVSS 216 requires 3×. IIHS rewards exceeding that.

Rating	Strength-to-Weight
Good	≥ 4.0
Acceptable	3.25 - 3.99
Marginal	2.5 - 3.24
Poor	< 2.5

The Market Effect: To earn "Top Safety Pick," vehicles need "Good" roof rating - 4×, not 3×.

The Result: Many vehicles now achieve 5× or 6× strength-to-weight ratios. Market pressure exceeded regulatory requirements.

The Other Solution: Electronic Stability Control (ESC) While roof strength protects IN rollovers, ESC prevents rollovers:

Detects loss of control
Applies individual brakes to correct
Reduces fatal rollovers by 75%
Required by FMVSS 126 (2012)

The Combination: ESC prevents rollovers. Strong roofs protect if they happen. Both required.

Speaker Notes:

"IIHS set their 'Good' rating at 4 times vehicle weight - higher than the federal 3× requirement. To get Top Safety Pick, you need that Good rating. So manufacturers build to 4× or higher. Some vehicles now achieve 5 or 6 times their own weight. But the bigger story is Electronic Stability Control. ESC detects when you're about to lose control and applies individual brakes to keep you on the road. It reduces fatal rollovers by 75%. Now required on all new vehicles. You prevent the rollover with ESC. If one happens anyway, the strong roof protects you."

SLIDE 21: Chapter 3 Summary - Rollover & Roof

Content:

The Two-Pronged Solution:

Strategy	Test/Standard	Effect
Prevent rollovers	FMVSS 126 (ESC)	75% reduction in fatal rollovers
Protect in rollovers	FMVSS 216, IIHS Roof	Strong survival space
Prevent ejection	Side curtain airbags	Keep occupants inside

The Timeline:

Year	Development
1973	FMVSS 216 (weak 1.5× standard)
2000	Firestone/Explorer scandal
2007	ESC mandated
2009	FMVSS 216 upgraded to 3×
2009	IIHS roof ratings (4× for "Good")
2012	ESC required on all vehicles

The Data Impact: Rollover fatalities have declined significantly - but rollovers are still disproportionately fatal.

Speaker Notes:

"Rollover protection is a two-part story. First, prevent the rollover - that's ESC. Reduces fatal rollovers by 75%. Second, if a rollover happens, protect the occupants - that's roof strength and side curtain airbags to prevent ejection. It took decades to get both parts in place. The Firestone/Explorer scandal in 2000 accelerated attention. Now we have ESC on all vehicles and much stronger roofs. But rollovers are still disproportionately fatal - there's more work to do."

CHAPTER 4: THE HIDDEN KILLERS

"Fire and Whiplash"

SLIDE 22: FMVSS 301 - Fuel System Integrity

Content:

The Problem Nobody Discussed: Post-crash fires were a major cause of death in survivable crashes.

Fuel tanks placed wherever convenient
Minimal protection from impact
Fuel lines that ruptured easily

The Ford Pinto Scandal (1971-1978):

The Pinto's rear-mounted fuel tank could rupture in rear impacts:

Tank only 6 inches from rear bumper
Differential bolts could puncture tank
Filler neck could separate

The Infamous Memo (1973): Ford engineers calculated:

Fix cost: $11/car × 12.5 million cars = $137 million
"Acceptable" deaths: 180 deaths × $200,000 = $36 million

Ford chose not to fix the design.

The Reckoning:

1977: Mother Jones exposé
1978: NHTSA recall of 1.5 million Pintos
1978: Indiana criminal prosecution of Ford (first ever against automaker)
Estimated 27-180 deaths from the defect

The Standard Tightens: FMVSS 301 was strengthened in direct response. Fuel tank placement and protection is now a critical design parameter.

Speaker Notes:

"Not all killers are obvious. Post-crash fires were killing people in survivable crashes because fuel tanks were placed wherever convenient with minimal protection. The Ford Pinto made this infamous. Ford engineers knew the design was dangerous. They calculated it would cost $11 per car to fix - about $137 million total. They estimated 180 deaths would occur, costing $36 million in lawsuits. They chose not to fix it. When this memo became public, Ford was criminally prosecuted - the first time ever for a defective design. FMVSS 301 was strengthened. Now fuel system integrity is a critical safety parameter."

SLIDE 23: IIHS Head Restraints - The Whiplash Epidemic

Content:

The Statistics:

Over 1 million whiplash injuries/year in US
Most occur in low-speed rear impacts
Chronic pain can persist for years
Massive economic cost (medical + lost work)

The Problem with Early Head Restraints: When first required, head restraints were often:

Set too low (didn't support the head)
Too far back from head (head snapped back before contact)
Adjustable but set incorrectly
Sometimes removed by owners

The Physics: In a rear impact, the seat pushes the torso forward, but the head lags behind. The neck bends backward (hyperextension) → whiplash.

The Swedish Innovation: Volvo and Saab developed "active" head restraints:

Move up and forward during crash
Engage the head earlier
Reduce relative motion between head and torso

The IIHS Dynamic Test (2004):

BioRID II dummy (highly articulated spine)
Simulates rear impact on sled
Measures actual neck forces and motion
Rewards active head restraints

Speaker Notes:

"Whiplash doesn't kill you - but it can ruin your life. Over a million whiplash injuries happen every year. The irony is that we required head restraints for decades, but many were useless - too low, too far back, or adjusted wrong. The Swedes developed active head restraints that move into position during a crash. IIHS created a dynamic sled test with a special dummy - BioRID - that can measure whiplash. This test rewards active head restraints and proper seat design. Whiplash isn't glamorous, but reducing it matters."

CHAPTER 5: ACTIVE SAFETY

"From Surviving Crashes to Preventing Them"

SLIDE 24: The Philosophy Shift

Content:

The Old Model (Passive Safety):

CRASH HAPPENS → Protect occupant
                 Seatbelt
                 Airbag
                 Structure

The New Model (Active Safety):

PRE-CRASH → PREVENT crash
            Warn driver
            Brake automatically
            Steer to avoid
                    ↓
            If crash unavoidable
                    ↓
            PASSIVE SAFETY kicks in

Why This Matters:

94% of crashes involve human error
If you can prevent the crash, no one gets hurt
Technology can react faster than humans
But passive safety remains the backup

The Technologies:

System	Function
ESC	Prevents loss of control
AEB	Automatic emergency braking
FCW	Forward collision warning
LDW/LKA	Lane departure/keeping
BSM	Blind spot monitoring

Speaker Notes:

"There's a fundamental shift happening in safety. For decades, we assumed crashes would happen and focused on protecting people when they did. That's passive safety - seatbelts, airbags, structure. But 94% of crashes involve human error. What if you could prevent the crash entirely? That's active safety. ESC keeps you from losing control. AEB brakes for you when you don't react in time. Lane keeping steers you back into your lane. The crash that doesn't happen is the safest one of all. But passive safety remains the backup - because nothing is perfect."

SLIDE 25: IIHS Front Crash Prevention (2013)

Content:

The Test:

Vehicle approaches stationary target at 12 mph and 25 mph
Does the system warn the driver?
Does it brake automatically?
How much does it reduce impact speed?

The Ratings:

Rating	Requirements
Superior	Avoid collision or major speed reduction at both speeds
Advanced	FCW + limited AEB performance
Basic	FCW available

The Industry Agreement (2016): 20 automakers voluntarily committed to make AEB standard by September 2022.

No government mandate
Driven by IIHS ratings and consumer pressure
Fastest safety adoption in history

The Data Case:

AEB reduces rear-end crashes by 50%+
Even basic FCW reduces crashes by 27%
Economic savings exceed system cost

Speaker Notes:

"IIHS started testing AEB in 2013. They approach a target at 12 and 25 mph and measure whether the system warns, brakes, and how much speed it reduces. The ratings created market pressure. Then in 2016, something remarkable happened: 20 automakers voluntarily agreed to make AEB standard by 2022. No law required it. Consumer pressure and IIHS ratings drove the fastest safety adoption in history. AEB cuts rear-end crashes by more than half."

SLIDE 26: Pedestrian AEB - The Growing Crisis

Content:

The Troubling Trend: Occupant deaths have declined. Pedestrian deaths have INCREASED.

Year	Pedestrian Deaths
2009	4,109
2015	5,494
2019	6,205
2021	7,388

Why Pedestrian Deaths Are Rising:

Larger vehicles (SUVs, trucks) more deadly to pedestrians
Higher front ends hit pedestrian at torso/head, not legs
Distracted driving (phones)
Distracted walking (phones)
More urban walking/cycling

The Technology Solution: Pedestrian AEB systems can detect people:

Camera identifies human shapes
Radar tracks movement
Calculate collision course
Warn driver and/or brake automatically
Some work at night (IR cameras)

The IIHS Test (2019):

Adult pedestrian target crossing road
Child pedestrian target
Day and night scenarios
Parallel walking scenarios

Speaker Notes:

"Here's a troubling trend: occupant deaths are falling, but pedestrian deaths are rising. In 2009, about 4,100 pedestrians died. In 2021, over 7,300. Why? Vehicles are bigger - SUVs and trucks hit pedestrians higher, at the torso and head instead of the legs. More distraction - both drivers and pedestrians on phones. More walking and cycling in cities. Pedestrian AEB can help. IIHS started testing it in 2019 - adult targets, child targets, day and night. This is an active area of development."

SLIDE 27: Headlights - The Hidden Variable

Content:

The Problem:

Nearly half of traffic deaths occur in the dark
Yet headlights received almost no regulatory attention
FMVSS 108 sets minimums, not performance standards
Huge variation between vehicles - even new ones

The IIHS Discovery: When IIHS started testing headlights:

Best headlights: 500+ feet illumination
Worst headlights: Under 200 feet
Some "premium" vehicles had terrible headlights
Curve illumination often poor

The Test:

Illumination distance on straightaways
Coverage on curves (left and right)
Glare to oncoming drivers
Low beam and high beam

The Rating Impact:

"Good" headlights now required for Top Safety Pick
Manufacturers redesigned headlight systems
Rapid adoption of LED and adaptive headlights

The Lesson: IIHS identified a safety factor that regulation had ignored. Consumer testing filled the gap.

Speaker Notes:

"Nearly half of traffic deaths happen in the dark. But headlights got almost no regulatory attention. When IIHS started testing headlights in 2016, they found huge variation - some new cars had worse headlights than models from years ago. Best headlights illuminated over 500 feet. Worst under 200. You need Good headlights for Top Safety Pick now. This shows IIHS's value in identifying neglected safety factors. It's not a crash test - but it addresses real danger."

SLIDE 28: Chapter 5 Summary - Active Safety

Content:

The Tests:

Test	Year	What It Changed
Front Crash Prevention	2013	AEB adoption accelerated
Pedestrian AEB	2019	Protection for vulnerable road users
Headlights	2016	Illumination quality addressed

The Paradigm Shift: From "protect in crash" to "prevent crash"

The Data Need: Active safety testing requires different data:

Vehicle dynamics (speed, acceleration, position)
System response timing
Target detection accuracy
Distance and closing speed

The Opportunity for DTS: Active safety is expanding the testing market - new test types, new data needs, new customers.

Speaker Notes:

"Active safety represents a paradigm shift. Instead of assuming crashes happen and protecting people, we're trying to prevent crashes entirely. This creates new testing needs - vehicle dynamics, system timing, target detection. DTS has opportunity here. The market isn't shrinking; it's expanding into new test types. Every AEB system needs validation. Every update needs retesting. The data needs are growing."

CHAPTER 6: PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION

"When the Car Hits You, Not the Other Way Around"

SLIDE 29: The Pedestrian Crisis

Content:

The Troubling Trend: While occupant deaths have declined, pedestrian deaths are rising.

Year	Pedestrian Deaths	% of All Traffic Deaths
2009	4,109	12%
2015	5,494	15%
2019	6,205	17%
2021	7,388	17%
2022	7,500+	18%

Why Pedestrians Are Dying More:

Larger vehicles (SUVs, trucks dominate sales)
Higher front ends → impacts hit torso/head, not legs
Heavier vehicles → more energy transfer
Distracted driving (phones)
Distracted walking (phones)
More urban walking and cycling

The Physics Problem:

Old sedan: Low hood, hits pedestrian at knee/thigh level → rolls onto hood
Modern SUV/truck: High front end, hits at hip/torso → no rollover, direct impact

Speaker Notes:

"Here's a troubling trend that doesn't get enough attention. Occupant deaths are falling - our crash tests are working. But pedestrian deaths are rising. In 2009, about 4,100 pedestrians died. By 2022, over 7,500. Why? Our vehicles are getting bigger. SUVs and trucks now dominate sales. When a sedan hits a pedestrian, the low hood tends to knock them onto the hood - bad, but survivable. When an SUV or truck hits a pedestrian, the high front end strikes at hip or chest level - direct impact, much more deadly. We've optimized for occupant protection while making vehicles more dangerous to everyone outside them."

SLIDE 30: Euro NCAP Pedestrian Testing

Content:

Europe Led the Way: Euro NCAP has tested pedestrian protection since 1997.

The Test Methods:

Test	What It Simulates
Headform to hood	Child or adult head hitting hood surface
Headform to windshield	Adult head hitting windshield base
Upper legform to bumper	Adult thigh/pelvis hitting bumper
Lower legform to bumper	Adult knee/tibia hitting bumper

How It Works:

Projectile impactors (not full pedestrian dummies)
Fired at vehicle front end at specific angles/speeds
Instrumented to measure acceleration, force, bending
Hood, bumper, windshield base all tested

What It Drove:

Design Change	Purpose
Active hood hinges	Hood pops up in pedestrian impact, creating crush space
Hood standoff	Space between hood and hard engine components
Energy-absorbing bumpers	Deformable structures at bumper level
Windshield airbags	External airbag covers windshield base (Volvo, others)
Soft bumper faces	Pedestrian-friendly materials

Speaker Notes:

"Europe has been testing pedestrian protection for over 25 years. They use headform and legform impactors - projectiles fired at the vehicle front end to simulate a pedestrian impact. The tests measure what happens when a head hits the hood, when a thigh hits the bumper, when a knee hits the lower bumper. This drove real design changes: active hoods that pop up to create crush space, energy-absorbing bumper structures, even external airbags on some Volvos that cover the windshield base. US testing has been slower to adopt pedestrian requirements."

SLIDE 31: US Pedestrian Testing - Playing Catch-Up

Content:

US Status:

No federal pedestrian protection standard (FMVSS)
IIHS pedestrian AEB testing (2019) - but that's crash AVOIDANCE
NHTSA researching pedestrian crashworthiness requirements
US lags Europe by 20+ years on this issue

IIHS Pedestrian AEB Test (2019):

Scenario	Description
Perpendicular adult	Adult crosses path at 5 mph
Perpendicular child	Child crosses path (shorter target)
Parallel adult	Adult walking along road edge

Tests at multiple vehicle speeds (12-37 mph), day and night.

What IIHS Tests:

Does system detect pedestrian?
Does it warn driver?
Does it brake automatically?
How much speed is reduced?

What IIHS Doesn't Test (Yet):

What happens when vehicle DOES hit pedestrian
Hood design, bumper design
Pedestrian injury outcomes

The Gap: We test whether vehicles avoid hitting pedestrians (AEB). We don't test whether vehicles protect pedestrians when hit (crashworthiness).

Speaker Notes:

"The US is behind on pedestrian protection. We have no federal standard for pedestrian crashworthiness - what happens to a pedestrian when a car hits them. IIHS tests pedestrian AEB - whether the car can avoid hitting a pedestrian - but not what happens if it fails. Europe tests both. They require hoods that are 'soft' enough to reduce head injury. They require bumpers that don't destroy knees. We test avoidance but not protection. That gap will likely close, but it hasn't yet."

SLIDE 32: The Future of Pedestrian Protection

Content:

Technologies in Development/Deployment:

Technology	Status	Function
Pedestrian AEB	Widespread	Avoid collision entirely
Active hood	Common in Europe	Pop-up hood creates crush space
External airbags	Limited (Volvo)	Cushion windshield base
Soft bumper faces	Increasing	Energy absorption
Lower hood lines	Design trend	Better geometry for pedestrian kinematics
Hood standoff	Design standard	Space above engine for deformation

The Regulatory Future:

NHTSA considering pedestrian requirements
Global Technical Regulation (GTR 9) provides framework
US adoption likely within next 5-10 years

The Design Tension:

Pedestrian protection favors LOW, SOFT front ends
SUV/truck popularity drives HIGH, BLUNT front ends
Conflicting market and safety pressures

The Data Need: Pedestrian testing requires specialized impactors, headforms, legforms - and precise measurement of acceleration, force, and bending. DTS instrumentation is used in these tests.

Speaker Notes:

"The future is a mix of avoidance and protection. Pedestrian AEB is spreading fast - most new vehicles have it. Active hoods are common in Europe, less so here. External airbags exist but are limited. The design tension is real: pedestrian safety wants low, soft front ends. But consumers want big SUVs and trucks with high, imposing front ends. Those are conflicting demands. NHTSA will likely adopt pedestrian crashworthiness requirements eventually - the global regulations exist, it's a matter of when. And when they do, testing will require specialized impactors and instrumentation."

CHAPTER 7: BEYOND AUTOMOTIVE

"Helmets, Sports, and the Same Physics"

SLIDE 33: The Concussion Crisis

Content:

The NFL Wake-Up Call:

2005: Dr. Bennet Omalu publishes first CTE case in NFL player
2009: NFL finally acknowledges concussion problem
2011: $765 million settlement with former players
2016: "Concussion" movie brings issue to public

The Science:

Term	Meaning
Concussion	Mild traumatic brain injury from impact
CTE	Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - degenerative brain disease from repeated impacts
Subconcussive	Impacts below concussion threshold - but cumulative damage

The Problem:

Football: 6-10 significant head impacts per game (linemen)
Hockey: High-speed collisions, fighting
Soccer: Heading the ball - cumulative effect
Cycling: Ground impacts at speed

The Question: Can better helmets reduce brain injury? The same question crash testing answers for occupants - can we protect the head?

Speaker Notes:

"The same physics that applies in car crashes applies in sports. When your head decelerates rapidly, your brain moves inside your skull. Too much, too fast, and you have a concussion - or worse. The NFL's concussion crisis brought this into public view. CTE - the degenerative brain disease found in football players - showed that even subconcussive impacts accumulate over time. The question became: can better helmets help? That's a question data can answer. And it's the same question we answer in automotive: how do we protect the head from impact?"

SLIDE 34: NOCSAE - The Sports Helmet Standard

Content:

NOCSAE: National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment

Founded: 1969 (after 36 football fatalities in 1968)
Role: Sets performance standards for sports helmets
Scope: Football, baseball/softball, lacrosse, polo, hockey, skiing

The Origin Story:

1968: 36 direct fatalities in football (peak year)
Parents, coaches, schools demanded action
NCAA and sporting goods industry founded NOCSAE
First football helmet standard: 1973

The Impact:

Decade	Football Direct Fatalities (Avg/Year)
1960s	26
1970s	15 (NOCSAE standards adopted)
1980s	9
1990s	5
2000s	4
2010s	3

From 26/year to 3/year - testing and standards work.

Speaker Notes:

"NOCSAE was founded in 1969 after 36 football players died from head injuries in a single year - 1968. That was the worst year on record. Parents and schools demanded action. The NCAA and sporting goods manufacturers created NOCSAE to develop helmet standards. The first standard came out in 1973. And it worked. Fatalities dropped from 26 per year in the 1960s to 3 per year in the 2010s. Testing and standards save lives - whether it's cars or helmets, the pattern is the same."

SLIDE 35: Drop Tower Testing

Visual:

[Diagram of drop tower test apparatus]

Content:

The Classic Helmet Test: Drop a helmeted headform onto an anvil, measure deceleration.

How It Works:

Rigid headform (represents skull)
Helmet fitted to headform
Drop from specified height (represents impact velocity)
Land on anvil (flat, hemispherical, or edge)
Accelerometer inside headform measures deceleration
Calculate Severity Index (SI) from acceleration-time curve

NOCSAE Football Helmet Test:

Parameter	Specification
Drop height	60" (1.52m) onto flat anvil
Impact velocity	~5.5 m/s (12.3 mph)
Pass threshold	SI < 1200
Locations tested	Front, side, rear, top, facemask
Conditioning	Hot, cold, wet

The Severity Index:

SI = \int a^{2.5} dt

Integrates acceleration over time, weighted to penalize high peaks.

DTS Role: High-g accelerometers must survive repeated impacts and measure accurately up to 300-400g. Data acquisition must capture the entire pulse at high sample rate.

Speaker Notes:

"The drop tower test is elegant in its simplicity. Put a helmet on a headform, drop it onto an anvil, measure how much the head decelerates. Lower deceleration means better protection. NOCSAE drops from 60 inches - about 12 mph impact velocity. They test multiple locations - front, side, rear, top - and in hot, cold, and wet conditions. The accelerometer inside measures the pulse, and we calculate a Severity Index. DTS accelerometers are designed for this - they survive repeated high-g impacts and capture the entire pulse accurately."

SLIDE 36: Linear Impactor Testing

Content:

The Limitation of Drop Tests: Drop tests are vertical impacts at moderate speed. But real head injuries often involve:

Higher speeds
Angled impacts
Rotational motion

The Linear Impactor: Instead of dropping the helmet, FIRE a projectile at it.

How It Works:

Helmet mounted on instrumented headform (free to move)
Pneumatic ram fires impactor at helmet
Higher speeds achievable (up to 30+ mph)
Measure: head acceleration, rotation, displacement
Test at various angles

NOCSAE Linear Impactor Test (Newer):

Parameter	Specification
Impactor mass	14.2 kg (31.3 lbs)
Impact speed	5.5-9.3 m/s (12-21 mph)
Locations	Multiple facemask, shell locations
Measures	Peak acceleration, SI, rotation

Why Both Tests?

Drop tower: Repeatable, historical baseline, simple
Linear impactor: Better simulates game-like impacts, measures rotation

The Rotation Issue: Concussions may be caused more by ROTATIONAL acceleration than linear. Newer protocols measure angular velocity, angular acceleration.

Speaker Notes:

"Drop tests have a limitation: real impacts aren't always straight down. Linear impactor tests fire a projectile at the helmet at higher speeds and various angles. This better simulates game conditions - a linebacker hitting at 20 mph from the side. The linear impactor can also measure rotation, which may be more important for brain injury than linear acceleration. Modern testing often uses both: drop tower for baseline certification, linear impactor for more game-realistic evaluation. We're instrumenting for both linear and rotational measurements now."

SLIDE 37: NFL/NFLPA Helmet Testing Program

Content:

The League's Response: Since 2011, NFL and NFLPA jointly test helmets and publish rankings.

The Testing Protocol:

Test Type	Configuration
Drop tests	Multiple locations, anvil types
Linear impactor	Game-like impact angles/speeds
Rotational	Measuring angular acceleration

The Ranking System: Helmets rated by how much they reduce concussion risk:

Top performers: Significantly reduce risk
Not recommended: Fail to provide adequate protection
Players banned from wearing lowest-performing helmets

The Market Effect:

Change	Result
Public rankings	Manufacturers compete on safety
Position-specific designs	Linemen vs. skill positions have different impacts
Annual updates	New designs tested each year
Player choice	Stars influence teammates to adopt safer helmets

The Data: NFL tracks every helmet impact using sensors (accelerometers in helmets during games). Combined with video, medical data - largest head impact database in sports.

Speaker Notes:

"The NFL and players' union now jointly test helmets and publish rankings. Helmets that don't meet standards are banned - players can't wear them. This created competitive pressure. Manufacturers had to improve. And they have - the best helmets today significantly outperform what was available 10 years ago. The NFL also instruments helmets with accelerometers during games, tracking every impact. They've built the largest head impact database in sports. That data drives design improvements. Same pattern as automotive: testing, data, engineering, protection."

SLIDE 38: Other Sports Applications

Content:

Hockey (HECC/NOCSAE):

Puck impacts, board collisions, falls
Drop tests + puck impact tests
Face cage/visor integration

Cycling (CPSC, ASTM, Snell):

Ground impacts after falls
Drop test onto flat, curbstone anvils
Single-impact design (unlike football multi-impact)
MIPS and other rotation-reduction technologies

Motorcycle (DOT FMVSS 218, ECE, Snell):

Highest speed impacts
Drop test + penetration resistance
Chin bar protection
Multiple certification standards globally

Equestrian (ASTM F1163):

Fall from height + potential hoof strike
Low-profile design requirements
Retention system critical

Skiing/Snowboarding (ASTM F2040, CE EN1077):

High-speed impacts with obstacles
Edge impacts (rocks, trees)
Combined certification for resort/backcountry

The Common Thread: All helmet testing measures the same thing: Can we reduce the acceleration experienced by the brain during impact?

Speaker Notes:

"Football isn't the only sport with helmet standards. Hockey tests for puck impacts and board collisions. Cycling helmets are designed for single-impact ground strikes. Motorcycle helmets face the highest speeds. Equestrian helmets must consider falls from height. Skiing helmets need to handle trees and rocks. The testing varies, but the physics is the same: can we reduce the acceleration experienced by the brain? That's what we measure with instrumented headforms. DTS accelerometers and data acquisition are used across all these applications."

SLIDE 39: The Automotive-Sports Connection

Content:

Same Physics, Same Instrumentation:

Parameter	Automotive	Sports
What we're protecting	Head, brain	Head, brain
Mechanism	Deceleration, rotation	Deceleration, rotation
Metric	HIC (Head Injury Criterion)	SI (Severity Index), similar
Instrument	Accelerometer	Accelerometer
Data need	Time-history pulse	Time-history pulse

DTS Products Used:

Application	Products
Automotive ATD	SLICE series, accelerometers
Helmet testing	Same accelerometers, same DAQ
Research	Same sensors, different mounts

The Knowledge Transfer:

Injury criteria developed from automotive research apply to sports
Wayne State Tolerance Curve (automotive) informs helmet standards
Cadaver/volunteer data (automotive history) validates helmet thresholds

The Business: Helmet testing is a smaller market than automotive - but it's growing, high-margin, and DTS equipment is ideal for it.

Speaker Notes:

"Here's why this matters to DTS: the physics is identical. In a car crash, we're measuring head acceleration to predict injury. In helmet testing, same thing. The Head Injury Criterion from automotive and the Severity Index from sports are mathematically similar. The accelerometers we use in crash test dummies are the same accelerometers used in helmet testing headforms. The knowledge transfers too - injury thresholds developed from automotive cadaver research inform helmet certification standards. It's the same science, same instrumentation, different application."

SLIDE 40: Chapter 6 & 7 Summary

Content:

Pedestrian Protection:

Status	Issue
Rising deaths	7,500+ pedestrians killed in 2022
US testing gap	No FMVSS for pedestrian crashworthiness
Europe leads	25+ years of pedestrian testing
Future	US adoption likely within 5-10 years

Sports/Helmet Testing:

Fact	Significance
NOCSAE founded 1969	After 36 football deaths in 1968
Football deaths down 90%	From 26/year to 3/year
NFL helmet rankings	Market pressure drives improvement
Same physics as automotive	Accelerometers, time-history data, injury criteria

The DTS Opportunity: Both pedestrian protection and helmet testing are growing markets that use the same instrumentation as automotive crash testing. The physics is universal.

Speaker Notes:

"Two takeaways. First, pedestrian protection is a gap that will close - deaths are rising, the public is noticing, regulations will follow. DTS instrumentation is used in pedestrian impactor testing. Second, sports helmet testing is the same physics as automotive head injury assessment. Our accelerometers, our data acquisition, our expertise - they translate directly. NOCSAE testing has cut football deaths by 90%. That's the power of testing and data. Same story, different arena."

CLOSING: THE PATTERN CONTINUES

SLIDE 29: The Unending Cycle

Content:

The Pattern We've Seen:

1968: FMVSS 208 (frontal) → gaps remain
         ↓
1990: FMVSS 214 (side) → gaps remain
         ↓
1995: IIHS Moderate Overlap → gaps remain
         ↓
2012: IIHS Small Overlap → gaps remain
         ↓
2021: IIHS Updated Side → gaps remain
         ↓
????: Next test...

Every test exposes what the previous tests missed.

What's Coming:

Gap	Potential Test
Rear seat occupants	IIHS rear seat evaluation (in development)
Far-side impacts	Crashes on opposite side of vehicle
Compatibility	Protecting small cars from large trucks
Oblique frontal	Angled impacts (NHTSA proposed)
EV-specific	Battery safety, unique mass distribution

The Pattern Will Continue.

Speaker Notes:

"Let me show you the pattern. FMVSS 208 addressed frontal - but side was neglected for decades. FMVSS 214 addressed side - but offset crashes were missed. IIHS moderate overlap addressed offset - but small overlap was missed. Every test exposes what the previous tests missed. What's next? Rear seat occupants - turns out they're now at higher risk in some crashes than front seat. Far-side impacts - when you're on the opposite side from the crash. Vehicle compatibility - how do we protect small cars from giant trucks? The pattern will continue. New gaps will be found. New tests will be created."

SLIDE 30: The Data Thread

Content:

Every Test Requires Data.

Test Type	Data Captured	DTS Role
Frontal crash	Head, chest, femur loads; structure intrusion	ATD instrumentation
Side crash	Pelvis, thorax, head loads; door intrusion	ATD instrumentation
Roof crush	Force vs. displacement	Load measurement
Sled tests	Dummy kinematics, restraint loads	Full test systems
AEB tests	Vehicle dynamics, timing, position	Expanding market
Pedestrian impactors	Headform/legform acceleration, force	Impactor instrumentation
Helmet testing	Head acceleration, severity index	High-g accelerometers

The Constant:

Test methods evolve
Pass/fail thresholds change
Vehicle designs change
Data requirements remain

DTS provides the data that makes every test meaningful.

Speaker Notes:

"Here's the thread that connects everything. Every test requires data. Frontal crashes need head, chest, and femur measurements from dummies. Side crashes need pelvis and thorax data. Roof tests need force measurement. AEB tests need vehicle dynamics. The tests change - but the need for accurate, reliable data never does. That's where DTS fits. We provide the data that makes every test meaningful. Without accurate data, a crash test is just expensive car destruction."

SLIDE 31: Why This Matters to Us

Content:

The Story We Just Told:

Problem	Test Created	Engineering Response	Lives Saved
Unrestrained occupants	FMVSS 208	Seatbelts, airbags	~18,000/year
Offset crashes	IIHS Moderate Overlap	Structural redesign	Thousands
Narrow impacts	IIHS Small Overlap	Frame rail redesign	Thousands
Side crashes	FMVSS 214, IIHS Side	Side airbags	~500-700/year
Rollovers	FMVSS 216, ESC	Strong roofs, stability control	Thousands
Rear-end crashes	IIHS AEB	Automatic braking	Growing
Pedestrian strikes	Euro NCAP Pedestrian	Active hoods, soft bumpers	Growing
Football head injuries	NOCSAE standards	Better helmets	90% reduction in fatalities

Each test exists because people were dying.

Each test required data to develop, validate, and enforce.

DTS captures that data.

Speaker Notes:

"Let's bring it home. Each test we discussed exists because people were dying in a specific way. Each test required data to develop the standard, validate designs, and enforce compliance. Seatbelts and airbags save about 18,000 lives a year. Structural improvements from overlap testing save thousands more. Side airbags, roof strength, ESC - all driven by tests, all requiring data. DTS captures that data. We're part of the chain from 'people are dying' to 'people are surviving.'"

SLIDE 32: The Bottom Line

Content:

"Every test has a story. Every story started with tragedy. Every tragedy ended when we got the data to understand it."

77% reduction in fatality rate since 1970. ~117,000 lives saved per year compared to 1970 rates.

Each of those lives was saved by:

A tragedy that revealed a problem
Research that generated data
A test that measured the problem
Engineering that solved it
Data that validated the solution

DTS is in the chain at steps 2, 3, and 5.

The data saves lives.

Speaker Notes:

"Every test has a story. Every story started with tragedy - people dying in ways we didn't understand. Every tragedy ended when we got the data to understand it. That's the pattern. Tragedy, data, test, engineering, lives saved. We're in that chain. When researchers study injury biomechanics - we provide instrumentation. When NHTSA or IIHS runs a test - we capture the data. When manufacturers validate designs - we're in their labs. 77% reduction in fatality rate. 117,000 lives saved per year. That's what data does. That's why we're here."

SLIDE 33: Q&A

Content:

Questions?

Key Takeaways:

Every test exists because people were dying a specific way
Each test exposed gaps the previous tests missed
Consumer testing (IIHS) often exceeds regulatory requirements
The pattern will continue - new gaps, new tests
Data is the constant thread through every test

"The test that doesn't exist yet will save lives we can't imagine losing."

APPENDIX

Quick Reference: All Tests by Year

Year	Test	Organization	Key Change
1968	FMVSS 208 (Frontal)	NHTSA	First occupant protection standard
1968	FMVSS 301 (Fuel)	NHTSA	Fuel system integrity
1973	FMVSS 216 (Roof)	NHTSA	Roof crush resistance
1979	NCAP Frontal	NHTSA	Consumer ratings
1990	FMVSS 214 (Side)	NHTSA	First dynamic side test
1995	Moderate Overlap	IIHS	Offset frontal testing
1995	Head Restraint (static)	IIHS	Whiplash geometry
1997	NCAP Side	NHTSA	Consumer side ratings
2003	Side Impact	IIHS	Small female dummy
2004	Head Restraint (dynamic)	IIHS	Whiplash performance
2007	FMVSS 214 Pole	NHTSA	Narrow object head protection
2009	FMVSS 216 Update	NHTSA	Doubled roof strength
2009	Roof Ratings	IIHS	4× for "Good"
2012	Small Overlap (driver)	IIHS	25% narrow overlap
2012	FMVSS 126 (ESC)	NHTSA	Stability control required
2013	Front Crash Prevention	IIHS	AEB testing
2016	Headlights	IIHS	Nighttime visibility
2017	Small Overlap (passenger)	IIHS	Symmetric protection
2019	Pedestrian AEB	IIHS	Vulnerable road users
2021	Side Impact Update	IIHS	Heavier, taller barrier

Pedestrian & Sports Tests

Year	Test	Organization	Key Change
1973	Football helmet standard	NOCSAE	First athletic helmet certification
1997	Pedestrian protection	Euro NCAP	Headform/legform impactors
2011	NFL Helmet ratings	NFL/NFLPA	Public helmet rankings
2019	Pedestrian AEB	IIHS	Pedestrian detection/avoidance

Test Configurations Quick Reference

Frontal Tests

Test	Overlap	Speed	Barrier	Dummy
FMVSS 208	100%	30 mph	Rigid	Hybrid III 50M
NCAP Frontal	100%	35 mph	Rigid	Hybrid III 50M + 5F
IIHS Moderate	40%	40 mph	Deformable	Hybrid III 50M
IIHS Small	25%	40 mph	Rigid	Hybrid III 50M

Side Tests

Test	Configuration	Speed	Dummy
FMVSS 214 MDB	90° barrier	33.5 mph	ES-2re
FMVSS 214 Pole	75° pole	20 mph	ES-2re or SID-IIs
NCAP Side	90° barrier	38.5 mph	ES-2re
IIHS Side (2021)	90° barrier	37 mph	SID-IIs

Other Tests

Test	Configuration	Measure
FMVSS 216	Static plate load	Force to 127mm crush
FMVSS 301	Rear/frontal/side + rollover	Fuel leakage
IIHS Head Restraint	Rear sled test	Neck loads (BioRID II)
IIHS AEB	12/25 mph approach	Speed reduction

Pedestrian Protection Tests (Euro NCAP)

Test	Configuration	Measure
Adult headform to hood	35 km/h, 65° angle	HIC
Child headform to hood	35 km/h, 50° angle	HIC
Upper legform to bumper	40 km/h	Bending moment, force
Lower legform to bumper	40 km/h	Knee bending, shear, acceleration
Headform to windshield	35 km/h	HIC

Helmet/Sports Tests

Test	Configuration	Measure
NOCSAE Drop Tower	60" drop, multiple anvils	Severity Index (SI < 1200)
NOCSAE Linear Impactor	5.5-9.3 m/s impact	SI, peak acceleration, rotation
CPSC Bicycle Helmet	Drop test, flat + curbstone	Peak acceleration (< 300g)
Snell Motorcycle	Drop test + penetration	Peak acceleration
NFL/NFLPA Protocol	Drop + linear impactor + rotation	Composite score

Video Resources

For This Presentation:

IIHS 1959 vs 2009 Crash Test

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g
Best demonstration of 50 years of frontal progress
Use in Chapter 1

IIHS Small Overlap Test Failures

Various on IIHS YouTube channel
Shows dramatic structural failures
Use in Slide 10-11

IIHS Side Impact (Updated 2021)

IIHS YouTube channel
Shows new heavier barrier
Use in Chapter 2

ESC Demonstration

Various available
Shows vehicle avoiding rollover
Use in Chapter 3

Anticipated Q&A

Q: "Why doesn't NHTSA just adopt the IIHS tests?" A: Different roles. NHTSA sets minimum standards for ALL vehicles (legal floor). IIHS provides consumer information (market pressure). Both are needed - regulation sets the floor, consumer testing raises the ceiling.

Q: "What test will come next?" A: Likely candidates: rear seat occupant protection, far-side impacts, compatibility testing, EV-specific tests, oblique frontal impacts. IIHS and NHTSA are both researching these.

Q: "Do other countries use the same tests?" A: Similar but not identical. Euro NCAP uses different barriers, speeds, and injury criteria in some cases. Japan, Australia, China have their own programs. There's ongoing harmonization work.

Q: "How does DTS fit into active safety testing?" A: Growing area. AEB testing requires vehicle dynamics measurement, timing data, position tracking. As active safety expands, data needs expand.

Q: "Are crash tests still relevant with autonomous vehicles?" A: Absolutely. Even perfect autonomy can't prevent all crashes (other vehicles, edge cases, system failures). Crashworthiness remains essential as the backup when prevention fails.

Presentation Tips for Ben

The Core Message:

Every test is a chapter in a story. Tell the story, not just the specs.

Emotional Anchors:

Ford Pinto memo (calculating lives vs. dollars)
Small overlap luxury car failures (BMW, Mercedes failing)
The airbag wars (30 years of fighting)
117,000 lives saved per year

The DTS Connection:

"We capture the data at step 2 (research), step 3 (testing), and step 5 (validation). Every test in this presentation depends on accurate data. That's what we provide."

Audience Engagement:

"Anyone want to guess how long it took to mandate airbags?" (28 years)
"What percentage of crashes involve full frontal overlap?" (Only 25%)
"How many pedestrian deaths last year?" (Over 7,000 - rising)

Timing Flexibility:

If running short: Condense Chapters 4 (Fire/Whiplash)
If running long: Skip some historical detail, focus on pattern
Always include small overlap story - it's the most dramatic

Document prepared for DTS internal presentation Theme: "Every Test Has a Story" Chapters: Frontal, Side, Rollover, Fire/Whiplash, Active Safety, Pedestrian, Sports/Helmets Last updated: February 13, 2026

72 KiB Raw Blame History Unescape Escape

Every Test Has a Story

How Tragedy, Data, and Engineering Created Modern Crash Testing

DTS Internal Presentation - Ben (Application Engineer)

Duration: 45 minutes

CENTRAL THESIS

PRESENTATION STRUCTURE

OPENING: THE PATTERN

SLIDE 1: Title Slide

SLIDE 2: The Pattern

Content:

Speaker Notes:

SLIDE 3: The Tests We'll Cover

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CHAPTER 1: FRONTAL IMPACT

"The Crash Everyone Thinks About"

SLIDE 4: Frontal Impact - The Starting Point

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SLIDE 5: FMVSS 208 - Where It All Began (1968)

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SLIDE 6: The Airbag Wars (1970-1998)

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SLIDE 7: The Depowering Crisis (1990s)

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SLIDE 8: NHTSA NCAP - Consumer Power (1979)

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SLIDE 9: IIHS Moderate Overlap (1995)

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SLIDE 10: IIHS Small Overlap - The Game Changer (2012)

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SLIDE 11: The Small Overlap Response

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SLIDE 12: Chapter 1 Summary - Frontal Impact

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CHAPTER 2: SIDE IMPACT

"The Door That Wasn't a Barrier"

SLIDE 13: Side Impact - The Neglected Crash

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SLIDE 14: FMVSS 214 - Finally, a Side Test (1990)

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SLIDE 15: The Side Airbag Revolution

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SLIDE 16: IIHS Side Test - Raising the Bar (2003 & 2021)

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SLIDE 17: Chapter 2 Summary - Side Impact

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CHAPTER 3: ROLLOVER & ROOF

"When the Sky Falls"

SLIDE 18: Rollover - The Disproportionate Killer

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SLIDE 19: FMVSS 216 - Roof Strength (1973 → 2009)

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SLIDE 20: IIHS Roof Ratings - Pushing Beyond

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SLIDE 21: Chapter 3 Summary - Rollover & Roof

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72 KiB

Raw Blame History