Browse Topic: Accident reconstruction

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Integrated Evaluation of Pre-Crash Braking and Crash Injury Outcomes Using Human Body Models and ATDs2026-26-0019To be published on 01/16/2026
Traditionally, vehicle occupant safety research has focused on passive safety aspects like crashworthiness and occupant restraint systems. However, with the advent of Active Safety technologies such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), research has expanded to include occupant kinematics during the pre-crash phase. AEB, by inducing occupant movement, often leads to out-of-position (OOP) behavior, compromising available space during the crash phase. Current Anthropometric Test Devices (ATDs) are limited in simulating occupant kinematics during the pre-crash phase, especially in the neck and torso regions. These devices are rigid and unable to replicate human body dynamics during low-acceleration events like AEB. To address this gap, Human Body Models (HBMs) such as THUMS, GHBMC, and SAFER are used to provide more biofidelic simulations. This study begins with physical vehicle trials conducted with human volunteers at various speeds to measure
Pendurthi, Chaitanya Sagar, THANIGAIVEL RAJA, T, Kondala, Hareesh, Sudarshan, B.Sudarshan, Nehe, Vaibhav, Rao, Guruprakash
Conceptual Crash Analysis in Automotive Applications with Reduced Computational Effort2026-26-0451To be published on 01/16/2026
In the realm of automotive safety engineering, the demand for efficient and accurate crash simulations is ever-increasing. As finite element (FE) modeling of components becomes increasingly detailed and the availability of advanced material models improves, crash simulations for full vehicles can become time-consuming. Evaluating the crash performance of any vehicle subsystem requires full vehicle simulations at the industry level, which are complex and time-consuming. This paper introduces a novel methodology for replicating full vehicle crash simulations using Principal Component Test (PCT) cut-model level. Adapting PCT simulations, a significant reduction in computational time and resource usage is achieved, thereby optimizing CPU cluster performance. The proposed method has been successfully implemented across various crash load cases, including frontal 100 percent overlap, 40 percent overlap, small overlap crash, side impact, rear impact, underbody impact and low speed impact
Moncayo, David, Malipatil, Anand, Prasad, Rakesh, kunnath, Allwin
Road Accident Data Reports: A Comparative Analysis of India with USA, France, and UK2026-26-0247To be published on 01/16/2026
This paper presents a comparative study on the accident data collected in India with that of USA, France and UK. The data for the analysis and comparison are collected from trusted sources such as Open Government Data (OGD) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GOV.UK and French Road Safety Observatory. By examining these datasets, the paper aims to identify trends and discrepancies in accident data collected across different countries and to verify if more documentation can help in bringing down the number of accidents. Reducing the frequency of accidents requires an understanding of the underlying causes of each one, which can only be achieved by conducting in-depth analysis of the accident data and comparing the parameters with data from Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD). The primary objective of this paper is to find documentation gaps and propose potential improvements to the documentation process in India that would ensure that research organizations
Raj, Aswin, Raja, Dheepan, Abhimanyu Shinde, Antriksh
Pre-crash characteristics of Motorised Two Wheelers in Indian Crashes2026-26-0034To be published on 01/16/2026
Motorized two-wheelers (M2Ws) represent the most affected road users in India, account for 45% of all fatalities in road crashes as per government data. Despite this, most research has focused on injury outcomes rather than the events leading up to these crashes. This study addresses the gap by analyzing pre-crash characteristics of M2W incidents using the Road Accident Sampling System-India (RASSI) database, which provides in-depth, scientifically collected crash data from across India. RASSI data was analysed to identify the pre-crash characteristics of M2W crashes such as the road structure, crash configurations, vehicle speeds, and specifically behavioural characteristics of M2W riders. A total of 3862 M2W samples were analysed over the period of 2011-2022 that represent 51,00,211 M2Ws nationally. The results show that although M2Ws have highest involvement in side/angle (‘T-bone’) crashes, Head-on crashes are the most severe crashes for M2Ws with 22% fatalities. The results also
Govardhan, Rohan, Padmanaban, Jeya, Jethwa, Vaishnav
Enhancing Pedestrian Safety: LIDAR-Based Deployment of Front LID/Bonnet and Airbag Systems in Heavy Commercial Vehicles During Low-Speed collisions.2026-26-0006To be published on 01/16/2026
As urban populations continue to grow, the safety of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) particularly in the presence of Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) has emerged as a critical concern. Research indicates that VRUs are at a 50% higher risk of fatal injury in collisions involving HGVs compared to passenger cars [1] [2]. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel pedestrian protection system that integrates LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology with a reusable airbag system to mitigate the severity of collisions. The proposed solution adopts a twofold approach for enhancing VRU protection in scenarios involving HGVs. In both approaches, LiDAR sensors are used to generate a real-time 3D model of the vehicle’s surroundings, enabling accurate VRU detection and predictive collision analysis. • Scenario 1: When vehicle speed exceeds the first threshold and a collision is unavoidable, the onboard ECU activates front lid actuators, extending the vehicle's front lid which can be retracted
Patil, Uday, Sriharsha, Viswanath, Pillai, Rajiv
Multi-Material Front Structures: A Pathway to Safer and More Sustainable Vehicle Design2026-26-0456To be published on 01/16/2026
Frontal crash structures play a vital role in occupant safety, but traditional designs often involve a trade-off between structural strength and weight efficiency. In the pursuit of safer and more sustainable mobility, this study explores a physics-based methodology that leverages the principle of dynamic equilibrium to guide the integration of dissimilar materials in front-end vehicle structures. Specifically, we examine a novel configuration wherein aluminum High pressure die cast (HPDC) is introduced in swan neck region of the front longitudinal member, while retaining steel in the frontal crush zone. This arrangement aims to redistribute crash loads and control deformation mechanisms, enabling improved energy absorption without compromising structural integrity. To evaluate the proposed strategy, a series of detailed finite element simulations were conducted using LS-DYNA, a widely adopted tool for vehicle crash analysis. The results reveal that the dynamic equilibrium approach
Revanth, Goshika, Bhagat, Milind, Joshi, Vikas, Mankhair, Abhijit, Sudarshan, B.Sudarshan, Kollipara, Jahanavi
Child Injury Pattern and Mechanism Differences Based on the Front Seat Occupancy Status in Rear Impacts with Severe Structural Intrusions from the Rear2024-26-000501/16/2024
Child crash injury protection in severe rear impact chiefly depends on how well the rear survival space bounded by the vehicle structure is maintained. Previous research and studies have shown the ill effects of front seatback collapse intruding into the rear child survival space from the front with minor or no intrusions from the rear. This paper shows the child injury pattern and fatal injury mechanism for a rear impact crash with a severe compartment intrusion from the rear without any front seat occupant. Furthermore, it compares the injury outcome with a similar crash and severe intrusion in the presence of the front occupant employing a full-scale vehicle-to-vehicle crash test. A detailed real-world crash investigation is conducted to identify the injury mechanism. It is compared with the outcome of similar severity rear impact vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests producing different injury patterns. The comparison and the analysis show that the survival space intrusion due to safety
Thorbole, Chandrashekhar
Effectiveness of the Load Legs in Enhancing the Passive Safety of Rear-Facing Child Seats in Frontal Crash2024-26-034301/16/2024
The passive safety performance of a child seat is modulated by the design features of the child seat and the vehicle interior. For example, in the rear-facing configuration, the child seat impacting front structures increases the head injury risk during a frontal crash. Therefore, this study evaluates the effectiveness of the load leg countermeasure in improving the child seat's overall kinematics and its capability to prevent the secondary impact on the vehicle interior structure in a severe frontal crash scenario. An in-depth, real-world crash investigation involving a properly installed rear-facing child seat impacting the center console is selected for the study where the infant sustained a severe brain injury. In addition, this crash is employed to choose the crash parameters for evaluating the effectiveness of the load leg countermeasure in a similar scenario. Finally, crash sled tests are conducted using the crash signature of the vehicle as obtained from the NHTSA NCAP rigid
Thorbole, Chandrashekhar
Crash Performance Improvement: The Impact of Engine Mount Crash Plates on Achieving a 5-Star Safety Rating2025-01-008505/05/2023
Electric vehicles (EVs) differ from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in that they lack a conventional engine and feature an electric drive unit, leading to distinct dynamic behaviours in the powertrain. Additionally, the arrangement of auxiliary components in EVs often differs from that in traditional ICE vehicles, which can sometimes significantly impact safety ratings. This paper examines a case study of a critical failure during a crash test, where displacement of an engine mount arm caused substantial structural intrusion and reduced the vehicle's safety rating. To address this issue and enhance crashworthiness, a "crash plate" was designed and integrated into the mount system. This solution effectively constrained the mount arm's movement during impact, preventing the intrusion observed in previous tests. The paper provides a detailed analysis of the crash plate's dimensions and its relationship to the engine mount, demonstrating its potential for broader application in
Hazra, Sandip, Khan, Arkadip, Mohare, Gourishkumar
Q&A22AUTP10_1010/01/2022
In June 2022, Hyundai Motor America broke ground for its Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL), an industry-unique testing facility dedicated to root-cause crash investigations and electric vehicle/future-product analysis activities at its Michigan R&D campus west of Detroit. Not long after the $51.6-million STIL's inauguration, the company named Brian Latouf as its first-ever Global Chief Safety Officer to “integrate the engineering resources of Hyundai and HMNA by combining safety field investigations, safety data analysis and safety-engineering performance into a streamlined global technical function.” At the STIL groundbreaking, SAE Mobility Media editorial director Bill Visnic spoke with Latouf about Hyundai's crash-safety vision.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Determine the Speed Change of Frontal Collisions2022-01-099803/29/2022
The speed change (Delta-V) sustained by a vehicle during a collision is a key element in many traffic collision investigations. Accident reconstructionists have a variety of investigation techniques that can be used to estimate speed change including crush energy, momentum based simulations and event data recorders. This paper proposes that artificial intelligence can be used to analyze photos of damaged vehicles in order to estimate the speed change. An artificial intelligence model was trained using images from over 1000 investigations of frontal collisions (the training set). The resulting model was tested using images from a new set of 250 frontal collision investigations (the test set). In about 85% of the test set, the resulting model predicted the speed change to within ±5mph of the original collision investigation results. By adopting artificial intelligence based algorithms, the accident reconstruction community can gain an additional check on their speed change calculations
King, Mathieu
A three-dimensional flame reconstruction method for SI combustion based on two-dimensional images and geometry model2022-01-052003/29/2022
An attempt has been made to develop a feasible method to reconstruct the three-dimensional flame surface of SI combustion. A double-window constant volume vessel was designed to simultaneously obtain the side and bottom images of the flame. High speed flame image acquisition were conducted from two different optical windows. The flame front was re-constructed based on two-dimensional images with a slicing model, in which the flame characteristics were derived by slicing flame contour modeling and flame-piston collision analysis. The flame irregularity and anisotropy were also taken into consideration. Two different principles were used to build the model, which were called the ellipse hypothesis modeling and a deep learning modeling. The reconstruction results show that part of the wrinkled and folded structure of the flame front can be revealed based on the bottom view images. In particular, the reconstruction results of the deep learning modeling can reveal more accurate flame
Du, Haoyu, Liang, Shuai, Ma, Xiao, Mao, Jianshu, Wang, Zhi, Shuai, Shijin
VALIDATION OF FROZEN SPEEDOMETER READINGS AGAINST EDR DATA2022-01-099903/29/2022
Around the turn of this century, the automotive industry introduced a new type of technology to drive the gauges on a vehicle’s instrument cluster. The change was unannounced to the collision reconstruction world, but soon after, investigators observed a marked increase in crashed vehicles displaying frozen gauges at what often appeared to be correct readings. The new technology was the use of stepper motors which require power to return to the zero position. Hence if electrical power is lost, the gauges remain in position. There have been a number of previous papers covering the operation of the instruments and crash testing of cars and motorcycles to establish the ability of the instruments to withstand the forces on the instrument during a collision. This paper aims to compare the frozen instrument readings from real world collisions with the available EDR data from the crashed vehicles. With the assistance of the collision reconstruction community a large dataset of 235 vehicles
Goddard, Christopher H., Anderson, Steve
Injury Severity Prediction Algorithm of SUBARU Fleet Model for Advanced Automatic Collison Notification2022-01-100503/29/2022
Recently, with the evolution of telemetry technology in vehicles, Advanced Automatic Collision Notification (AACN) that detects patients at risk of serious injury in the event of an accident and transports them to the trauma center at an early stage may greatly improve the treatment of patients. An Injury Severity Prediction (ISP) algorithm for AACN was developed using a logistic regression model to predict the probability of sustaining Injury Severity Score (ISS) 15+ injury. National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS: 1999-2015) and model year 2000 or later were filtered for new case selection criteria, which were based on vehicle body type, to match Subaru’s fleet. This proposed algorithm uses crash direction, change in velocity, multiple impacts, seat belt use, vehicle type, presence of any older occupant, presence of any female occupant, and presence of the right-sided passenger. Variable selection techniques were used to construct the final ISP
Ejima, Susumu, Goto, Tsukasa, Zhang, Peng, Cunningham, Kristen, Wang, Stewart
Damaged Device Forensics of Vehicle Event Data Recorders and Mobile Devices.2022-01-101603/29/2022
Over the past two decades, digital data stored within vehicle systems has been highly useful in determining the events leading to a crash, especially when combined with traditional accident reconstruction techniques. With the proliferation of Internet of Things (IOT), the sources of that data have grown exponentially and techniques for applying that data have been refined and expanded. These sources of data range from engine control modules (ECM), airbag control modules (ACM), infotainment modules, telematics modules, and mobile devices. For these reasons, the demand for successful retrieval of vehicle systems data is increasing. Severe crashes are no exception and often present a unique challenge to reconstruction experts because these vehicle system modules - which contain the crash data - are often damaged in serious crashes. When the modules themselves are damaged; whether it be physical, fire, or water damage; standard techniques for data retrieval may be impossible without
Burgess, Shanon
A Comparison of Luminance Estimation Software to Measured Values2022-01-096603/29/2022
Mapping the luminance values of a visual scene is of broad interest to accident reconstructionists, human factors professionals, and lighting experts. Previous work has shown that pixel intensity captured by consumer-grade digital still cameras can be calibrated to estimate luminance. Suway and Suway presented a methodology for estimating luminance from digital images and video of a scene. This method requires the capture of dark images close in time to the capture of the image that will be used to estimate luminance. Additionally, Suway’s method requires the specific camera and lens combination used to be calibrated for luminance estimation. The methodology presented by Suway forms the basis for a software application, called Nitere, that calculates the relationship between pixel intensity and luminance for a camera lens combination and can therefore estimate real-world luminance values from pixel intensity for a properly calibrated camera and lens combination. In this paper, the
Carter, Neal, Suway, Jeff
Estimating the Real-World Benefits of Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Support Systems2022-01-098003/29/2022
Four crash modes are overrepresented in traffic fatalities: run-off-road crashes, non-tracking run-off-road crashes, head-on crashes, and pedestrian crashes. Two advanced driver assist systems developed to help prevent and mitigate tracking run-off-road crashes and head-on crashes are lane departure warning (LDW) and lane keeping support (LKS). LDW acts to warn the driver when they have left the lane, whereas LKS performs automatic steering to prevent the vehicle from departing the lane. The objective of this research was to estimate LDW and LKS effectiveness in reducing run-off-road crashes and cross-centerline head-on crashes. All passenger vehicles that experienced a lane departure from 2017 to 2019 in the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) were analyzed. CISS records the availability of active safety features for each vehicle, including LDW and LKS. The system effectivenesses were computed using the quasi-induced exposure method, where the exposure group was vehicles that
Dean, Morgan E., Riexinger, Luke E.
A Methodology for Using Reality Capture in Vehicle Accident Reconstruction’2022-01-099703/29/2022
Laser scanners are typically used in vehicle accident reconstruction to measure roadway details; however, laser scans used near congested roadways digitize unwanted passing vehicles and produce a scan with noisy and poor image quality point clouds. On the other hand, drone images are unable to capture reflective objects and can struggle with vertical surfaces when creating 3D mesh for analysis. Prior research has tested the accuracy of drone-captured images processed with commercially available AgiSoft and Pixi4D software; however, a research gap still exists in examining the use of RealityCapture with drone images, FARO scans, and AeroPoint Ground Targets for use in accident reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to define a procedure and methodology for combining the ability of laser scans to capture vertical details that drones cannot with the color and roadway details of drone imagery not otherwise captured by FARO. It will be shown that this methodology is superior in
Vega, Henry V., Suway, Jeffrey, Desai, Elvis, Engleman, Krystina
Geometric Derivation of Camera Equations 2022-01-100403/29/2022
Photogrammetry, camera matching, and model-based image matching are commonly used techniques to analyze video for accident reconstruction and other forensic applications. Investigators are often tasked with determining the speed of a vehicle, person, or other object in a video of an incident, or with taking measurements from photographs. All such calculations are based on fundamental geometric principles governing image projection inside a camera. Most treatments in the literature express the image projection equations either in very simple terms for specific cases or in compact matrix notation that is difficult to apply. The purpose of this paper is to present a geometric derivation of the image projection equations in a straightforward form that can be readily applied by a qualified investigator without the need for specialized software. In addition, a simple brute force optimization procedure is described to perform camera matching and model-based image matching. Examples are
Funk, James
Predicting Driver Emergency Response Behaviour through Time-to-Impact2022-01-097103/29/2022
Conventional forensic analyses of collision avoidance behaviours involve assigning a perception and response time (PRT) interval to a driver that precedes the onset of evasive action. However, this approach relies on the investigator identifying a ‘time zero’ for when to begin the PRT interval, which should align with the first moment of hazard detection. Depending on the incident circumstances, this moment may not be readily apparent or appropriate. Recent research has shown potential for a more universally applicable method that is based on the relationship between response onset and the projected time-to-impact (TTI). Accordingly, the aim of this research is to further investigate this relationship with diverse hazard scenarios. Twenty-one subjects viewed driver-perspective recordings of a simulated vehicle travelling down a major roadway past several two-way stop-controlled minor roads. At various intersections, intruding vehicles entered from either the left or right. These
Erazo, Fabian, Campbell, Adam
Positional Accuracy of Portable GPS Devices during Different Ride Stages2022-01-099203/29/2022
GPS devices can produce a wealth of data about cyclists’, scooterists’, and other riders’ road paths and route usage. However, prior research has demonstrated that GPS positional accuracy is less reliable for more nuanced roadway positioning, such as which lane a vehicle occupies, as well as within-lane movements, such as acceleration and deceleration⁠. This limitation presents a substantial challenge for crash reconstructionists that may have access to GPS data and require second-by-second positional accuracy to determine such nuanced maneuvers and vehicle positioning in their analysis. The purpose of this study was to examine the positional accuracy of several GPS units during three different ride stages: acceleration, deceleration, and constant speed. The same devices were also tested for stationary accuracy, power cut-off, and simulated impact scenarios. To obtain precise data from GPS units, tests were performed with an electric scooter ridden in rural landscapes with clear skies
Desai, Elvis, Suway, Jeff, Engleman, Krystina, Vega, Henry
Study on estimation of traveling trajectory using the recording data in the event data recorder2022-01-101103/29/2022
In a traffic accident investigation, it is important to accurately understand the traveling trajectory of the involved vehicle in order to investigate the cause of the accident. Currently, many event data recorders (EDRs) document the operating status of some electronic control devices and vehicular behavior but do not record the traveling trajectory. If the traveling trajectory can be estimated from the EDR data, it is possible to obtain the relevant information for investigating the cause of the accident. In this paper, for the purpose of using the EDR data in accident investigation, we examined the estimated traveling trajectory based on the data obtained from the experiment. In the experiment, the high-precision device measuring a positioning (GPS) and vehicular behavior was installed in a test vehicle equipped with an EDR. This test vehicle ran on specified test courses to acquire both EDR data and measuring device data, simultaneously. As a result, in the case where the vehicle
Matsumura, Hideki, Itoh, Tatsuya
A Comparative Damage Analysis Approach to Reconstructing Frontal, Rear, and Sideswipe Motor Vehicle Accidents: Verification with Event Data Recorders2022-01-101403/29/2022
A comparative damage analysis (CDA) methodology for assessing the severity of motor vehicle accidents was evaluated, in which the damage sustained by the subject vehicles was compared to damage sustained by exemplar vehicles, in the same type of crash and in which the associated dynamics were known or could be determined. Forty-four real-world frontal, rear, or sideswipe accidents were reconstructed utilizing various sources of information regarding the accident, including photographs, repair estimates, statements. The damage was compared to that sustained by exemplar vehicles in independent vehicle tests, real-world accident reconstructions, and/or simulations. A delta-V (null for sideswipes) was determined for 45 involved vehicles equipped with event data recorder (EDR) capabilities in their airbag control modules (ACMs). Subsequently, the data contained within their ACMs was imaged. Results from the CDA were compared to the EDR data. In 40 vehicles (89.9%), the CDA-derived
Hill, Michael, Zaragoza-Rivera, Yadetsie, Baratta, Richard
Rear-End Impacts – Part 1: Field and Test Data Analysis of Crash Characteristics 2022-01-104103/29/2022
Prior to developing or modifying the protocol of performance evaluation tests, it is important to identify field relevant conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the distribution of selected crash variables from rear crash field accidents involving modern vehicles. The exposure and serious-to-fatal injury of non-ejected occupants was determined in 2008+ model year (MY) vehicles using 2007-2015 NASS-CDS and 2017-2019 CISS. In addition, 15 EDRs were collected from 2017 to 2019 CISS cases with a rear delta V ranging from 32 to 48 km/h. Ten rear crash tests were also investigated to identifying pulse characteristics in rear crashes. The tests included five vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests and five FMVSS 301R barrier tests matching the struck vehicle. The analysis of NASS-CDS and CISS data indicates that more than 50% of exposed (MAIS 0+F) occupants were involved in a rear crash with a distributed impact and with no over-ride or under-ride. More than 93% were with a 6 o’clock
Parenteau, Chantal, White, Samuel, Burnett, Roger, Stephens, Gregory, Michalski, David
Luminance Estimation with Exemplar Digital Camera2022-01-096503/29/2022
Mapping the luminance values of a visual scene is of broad interest to accident reconstructionists, human factors professionals, and lighting experts. Previous work has shown that pixel intensity captured by consumer-grade digital still cameras can be calibrated to estimate luminance. Suway and Suway presented a methodology for estimating luminance from digital images and video of a scene. This method requires the capture of dark images close in time to the capture of the image that will be used to estimate luminance. Additionally, Suway’s method requires the specific camera and lens combination used to be calibrated for luminance estimation. In this paper, the authors present results of estimating luminance with an exemplar camera and taking exemplar dark images. The analysis was completed with the commercially available luminance estimation software, Nitere. The resulting luminance estimates were compared to luminance values measured with a Westboro photonics P501U and our methods
Suway, Jeffrey, Carter, Neal
Assessment of the Dynamics of Electric Scooter Micro-Mobility Devices and the Kinematics and Behaviors of Riders2022-01-103003/29/2022
Given the widespread adoption of electric scooters as a micro-mobility vehicle, and the subsequent emergence of electric scooter (e-scooter) accident reconstruction and human factors analyses in forensic investigations, there is a pressing need for additional research quantifying the dynamic capabilities of e-scooters and characterization of the responses and behaviors of e-scooter riders. The present study aims to expand upon the limited literature currently available by presenting data from experiments using large sample size and a wide array of e-scooter models. An assessment of the dynamic performance of e-scooters in semi-naturalistic environments and observations of the kinematics and behavioral characteristics of e-scooter riders were performed with four experiments: 1) Measuring the dynamics of four different instrumented e-scooters through a semi-naturalistic driving course conducted by volunteer participants, 2) performing a cross-sectional observational study of rider
Tibavinsky, Ivan Andres, FIGUEROA, Rosemarie
Using PC-Crash to Analyze Motorcycle Slide to Stop Dynamics2022-01-100203/29/2022
PC-Crash is an accident reconstruction program that enables the user to analyze vehicle collision dynamics and trajectory models. This research paper presents the utilization of PC-Crash to analyze Motorcycle slide to stop dynamics. Although, there are numerous research and testing on motorcycle slide to stop dynamics, there are no studies that consist of using a simulation software such as PC-Crash to analyze motorcycle slide to stop dynamics. For this study, existing Motorcycle slide to stop data from SAE 2019-01-0426 will be simulated and analyzed in PC-Crash. The selected dataset consists of three motorcycles; a 2002 Kawasaki ZRX1200R, a 2006 Yamaha YZF-R6, and a 2013 Ninja EX300. Eight of the twelve slide to stop data collected by Fatzinger [1] will be simulated and analyzed in PC-Crash. The motorcycle pre-slide speeds range from 25 – 45 mph. Parameters such as vehicle weight, sliding friction factor, motorcycle sliding and yaw trajectory will be accounted for in each PC-Crash
Nguyen, Benjamin Mai, Fatzinger, Edward, Landerville, Jon
Reconstruction of an auto-rickshaw frontal crash using FE simulation with validation using captured crash video from India2021-28-025710/01/2021
The three wheeled “Auto-Rickshaws” [Auto] plays a significant role in road transportation, especially in India. The crash safety and reconstruction studies have been widely used in four wheelers, whereas the availability of such data for Auto was found to be limited. In recent times, accident data processing from available videos is being utilised to observe the crash scenario, from which the crash parameters can be given as inputs to the crash analysis. This paper focusses on process the real-world accident data and study crash characteristics. With limitation in availability of detailed injuries post-crash, the study was restricted to reconstruction of crash kinematics and estimations of indicative injuries to driver. The source of video data is videos of crash available in public domains like YouTube. PYTHON video processing tool has been used to process the set of real-world accident video data. The object detection, Pixel per meter computation and object tracking are the major
S, Ragul, Sankarasubramanian, Hariharan, Kondaveeti, N S V Nikas, Yadav, Pandugayala Nithin
Title updates jmsSAE-PP-0040008/13/2021
Abstract
Jackson, Alyssa
A Data-Based Modeling Approach for the Prediction of Front Impact (NCAP) Safety Performance of a Passenger Vehicle2021-01-092304/06/2021
Designing a vehicle for superior crash safety performance in consumer rating tests such as US-NCAP is a compelling target in the design of passenger vehicles. In today’s context, there is also a high emphasis on making a vehicle as lightweight as possible which calls for an efficient design. In modern vehicle design, these objectives can only be achieved through Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) for which a detailed CAD (Computer-Aided Design) model of a vehicle is a pre-requisite. In the absence of the latter (i.e. a matured CAD model) at the initial and perhaps the most crucial phase of vehicle body design, a rational approach to design would be to resort to a knowledge-based methodology which can enable crash safety assessment of an assumed design using artificial intelligence techniques such as neural networks. In the current study, the implied objective is achieved by building a training database with the aid of US-NCAP simulations of validated real-world full vehicle finite
Krishna, Ragav, Deb, Anindya, Ramachandra, Sanketh, Chou, Clifford
Intelligent Voice Activated Drone(s) for in-Vehicle Services and Real-Time Predictions2021-01-006304/06/2021
Today, commercially available drones have limited use-cases in the rapidly evolving community. However, with advances in drone and software technology, it is possible to utilize these aerial machines to solve problems in a variety of industries such as mining, medical, construction, and law enforcement. For example, in order to reduce time of investigation, Indiana State Police are currently utilizing ad-hoc commercial drones to reconstruct crash scenes for insurance and legal purposes. In this paper, we illustrate how to effectively integrate drones for in-vehicle services and real-time prediction for automotive applications. In order to accomplish this, we first integrate simpler controls such as voice-commands to control the drone from the vehicle. Next, we build smart prediction software that monitors vehicle behavior and reacts in real-time to collisions. Furthermore, we employ object recognition techniques through In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems to identify the surroundings
Nithiyanantham, Mayunthan, Sinnapolu, Giribabu
Drivers’ Responses to Lead Vehicles: Thresholds for Triggering an Emergency Response, Age Differences, Crash Risks, and Influence of Secondary Task Engagement2021-01-089804/06/2021
Analyses of driver response time studies and fatal crash statistics were examined to determine: 1. whether all rear-end crash types can be analyzed as one crash type, 2. average braking thresholds for drivers, and 3. the influence cell phone usage has on drivers’ response times when responding to a lead vehicle. The goal of this research is to recommend protocols for investigating LV crashes that is supported by the literature. Two distinct lead vehicle [LV] response time events emerged: LV platoon (two vehicles traveling together in close proximity) and LV looming (a vehicle approaching a stopped or much slower LV). In normal driving, platoon LV events were very common but resulted in very few crashes per exposure. Young drivers were over-represented when they did occur. Onset of the hazardous event was when the LV decelerated, and drivers began braking roughly 3 to 5 seconds before impact. These results were consistent with the braking thresholds by naturalistic drivers in congested
Muttart, Jeffrey, Dinakar, Swaroop, Edewaard, Darlene
Speed Analysis from Video: A Method for Determining a Range in the Calculations2021-01-088704/06/2021
This paper introduces a method for calculating vehicle speed and uncertainty range in speed from video footage. The method considers uncertainty in two areas; the uncertainty in locating the vehicle’s position and the uncertainty in time interval between them. An abacus style timing light was built to determine the frame time and uncertainty of time between frames of three different cameras. The first camera had a constant frame rate, the second camera had minor frame rate variability and the third had more significant frame rate variability. Video of an instrumented vehicle traveling at different, but known, speeds was recorded by all three cameras. Photogrammetry was conducted to determine a best fit for the vehicle positions. Deviation from that best fit position that still produced an acceptable range was also explored. Video metadata reported by iNPUT-ACE and Mediainfo was incorporated into the study. When photogrammetry was used to determine a vehicle’s position and speed from
Beauchamp, Gray, Pentecost, David, Koch, Daniel, Hashemian, Alireza, Marr, James, Cordero, Rheana
Performance of the Ford Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking System in Instrumented Tests2021-01-089404/06/2021
Modern Ford vehicles can be manufactured with a system known as Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). The Pre-Collision Assist feature uses camera technology to detect a potential collision with a vehicle or pedestrian directly ahead. If a potential collision is detected, an alert sound is emitted, and a warning message displays in the vehicle’s message center. If the driver response is not sufficient, AEB will be pre-charged and brake-assist sensitivity will be increased to provide full responsiveness if the driver does brake. If there is no perceived corrective action and a collision is imminent, the vehicle’s brakes can apply automatically. By detecting the possible collision and actuating the braking system, it is possible to prevent some collisions and lessen the severity of others. Testing of this system was conducted using a 2020 Ford Explorer. During several tests, the instrumented Ford was driven at a simulated target vehicle or pedestrian dummy. Data
Vandiver, Wesley, Anderson, Robert
The Effect of Using the Same Tire Friction for Both Vehicles in Impact Speed Reconstructions2021-01-089904/06/2021
Most collision reconstructions implicitly assume the same tire/road friction coefficient for all vehicles, despite evidence that friction varies between tires, surfaces, and individual trials. Here we assess the errors introduced by an assumption of a single, universal friction coefficient when reconstructing a collision where vehicles actually had different tire frictions. We used Monte Carlo methods to generate 20,000 synthetic two-vehicle impacts and rest positions using different, randomized friction coefficients for each vehicle and randomized impact speeds. These rest positions were then used to reconstruct both vehicles’ impact speeds assuming a single, common friction coefficient. High and low bounds on the impact speeds were reconstructed using high and low bounds on the common friction. We found that more than 97% of the true impact speeds were in the ranges reconstructed using upper and lower friction bounds. The influence of the similar-friction assumption on the errors in
Heinrichs, Bradley E., Toscano, Dwayne
Accuracy and Validation of Geotab GPS Fleet Tracking Devices2021-01-090804/06/2021
Fleet management companies have implemented tracking devices in their vehicles that employ Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in near real time for optimizing fuel consumption, smart routes, and for monitoring driving behavior. For this purpose, Geotab Inc. has developed the OBD-II connected Geotab GO device. These devices are capable of recording vehicle position and speed data using GPS. The present study seeks to validate and compare Geotab recorded data to data collected from a VBOX 3i RTK DGPS; this instrumentation will provide a reliable reference for vehicle position and speed. Additional data logging characteristics such as LTE connectivity, Geotab’s proprietary curve logging algorithm, near-real-time vehicle data, and speed interpolation were analyzed. This study considered two Geotab models, the GO8 and GO9. Both devices were connected in parallel using two sets of two-way splitters connected to the test vehicle’s OBD-II port. The GO8, GO9, and VBOX 3i RTK, logged data
Morales, Roberto C., Gamboa, Jason, Nguyen, Benjamin, Siddiqui, Omair, Bonsall, Jeffrey
Incidence and Mechanisms of Head, Cervical Spine, Lumbar Spine, and Lower Extremity Injuries for Occupants in Low- to Moderate-Speed Rear-End Collisions2021-01-090004/06/2021
Automotive accidents and subsequent personal injury claims incur substantial costs annually. While seat and head restraint design continue to evolve and improve, occupant safety and injury risk assessment in rear-end collisions remain at the forefront of automotive innovation. In this study, we combined statistical analyses of nine years (2007-2015) of data from the National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) database and one year (2017) of data from the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) database with data acquired from vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests conducted with instrumented anthropomorphic test device (ATD) occupants. Together, these analyses were used to compare and relate field injury rates with potential mechanisms underlying head, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and lower extremity injuries in low-to moderate-speed rear-end collisions. First, we performed statistical analyses of the NASS-CDS and CISS databases to estimate the rate of AIS 2
Davis, M., Mkandawire, C., Brown, T., Pasquesi, S.
Analysis of Crash Data from a 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Event Data Recorder2021-01-090504/06/2021
2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupes were manufactured with Airbag Control Modules (ACMs) with Event Data Recorder (EDR) functionality to record crash-related data. However, 2013 is the first model year supported by the download tool and software manufactured for Hyundai vehicles and distributed by Global Information Technologies (GIT) America, Inc. Prior published research has shown that EDR data can be collected from pre-2013 Hyundai vehicles using the GIT tool and some data elements from 2012 and earlier model year Hyundai vehicles are accurately translated - most notably, vehicle speed. To specifically examine the EDR data recorded by a 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, two instrumented crash tests were conducted. Both tests involved broadside impacts into a second stationary vehicle and resulted in a non-deployment EDR recording. The Hyundai was human driven during both crash tests. EDR data was obtained from the Hyundai following each crash test by using a vehicle identification number (VIN
Vandiver, Wesley, Anderson, Robert
Incidence and Mechanism of Head, Cervical Spine, Lumbar Spine, and Lower Extremity Injuries for Occupants in Low- to Moderate-Speed Frontal Collisions2021-01-090204/06/2021
Automotive accidents and subsequent personal injury claims incur substantial costs annually. While three-point restraint usage, dual-stage airbags, and knee bolster and side curtain airbags have become more ubiquitous and, in some cases, governmentally mandated for front seat occupants, occupant safety and injury risk assessment continue to be at the forefront of automotive innovation. In this study, we combined analyses of the National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS; 2007-2015) and the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS; 2017) with data acquired from vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests conducted with instrumented anthropomorphic test device (ATD) occupants. Together, these analyses were used to compare and relate field injury rates with potential injury mechanisms in low- to moderate-speed frontal collisions. First, low- to moderate-speed (delta-V ≤ 24 km/h) frontal crash data from NASS-CDS and CISS were analyzed to estimate the rate of AIS 2+ and
Davis, M., Mkandawire, C., Brown, T., Pasquesi, S.
The Accuracy of Vehicle Modeling When Using an Inversely Calibrated Camera in PhotoModeler2021-01-088304/06/2021
Photogrammetry is a commonly used and accepted technique within the field of accident reconstruction for taking measurements from photographs. Previous work has shown the accuracy of optimized close-range photogrammetry techniques to be within 2 mm compared to other high accuracy measurement techniques when using a known calibrated camera. This research focuses on the use of inverse camera close-range photogrammetry, where photographs from an unknown camera are used to model a vehicle. Photogrammetry is a measurement technique that utilizes triangulation to take measurements from photographs. The measurements are dependent on the geometry of the camera, such as the sensor size, focal length, lens type, etc. Three types of cameras were tested for accuracy; a high-end commercial camera, a point and shoot camera, and a cell phone camera. This study indicates that in a properly conducted inverse photogrammetry project, an analyst can be 95% confident the true position of a point will be
Neal, Joseph, Funk, Charles, Sproule, David
Vehicle-Specific Headlamp Mapping for Nighttime Visibility2021-01-088004/06/2021
Understanding when an object enters into the headlamp projection from a vehicle is useful to assist the driver in detecting the object in dark or nighttime conditions. Understanding the specific illumination pattern of a vehicle headlamp beam is useful for the evaluation of nighttime visibility issues in accident reconstruction. Determining when an object entered in the headlamp beam at a specific illuminance may be of particular importance to driver avoidance capabilities. Headlamp illumination patterns may be unique to each vehicle make and model. In this study, the headlamp illumination patterns of multiple vehicles were mapped, and the measured illumination distances were compared with empirical predications. In general, individual headlamp illumination distances fell within the range of minimum and maximum empirical predictions. However, the empirical relationships can have large standard deviations, which may influence the available time for the driver to detect and respond to
Funk, Charles, Petroskey, Karla, Arndt, Steve, Vozza, Adriano
Reconstructing Vehicle and Occupant Motion from EDR Data in High Yaw Velocity Crashes2021-01-089204/06/2021
Among the several data recorded by a typical motor vehicle’s event data recorder (EDR) prior to, during and after a crash event, are sampled time histories of longitudinal and lateral components of delta-v. The delta-v components are not measured directly but are calculated by numerically integrating the outputs of two perpendicular accelerometers contained within the EDR box. As currently designed and implemented a typical EDR does not measure yaw velocity or track vehicle heading during the impulse phase of a crash. Without this yaw information to orient the accelerometers relative to the fixed ground, the delta-v values calculated by the EDR through direct integration of its measured acceleration components should not be interpreted as representing absolute changes in vehicle velocity, especially in cases where the yaw velocity is high. EDR-calculated delta-v components must be adjusted to account for the yaw motion that occurred during acquisition of the data. With reasonable time
Smith, Gregory C.
Typical Acceleration Profiles for Left-Turn Maneuvers Based on SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Data2021-01-088904/06/2021
The goal of this study was to use naturalistic driving data to characterize the longitudinal and lateral accelerations of vehicles making a left turn from a stop at signalized intersections. Left turn maneuvers at 15 intersections were extracted from the Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) database. A subset of 420 traversals for lead vehicles that were initially stopped and negotiated their left turns unimpeded by oncoming traffic was used for the analysis. For each traversal, we extracted information regarding the driver’s sex and age, the vehicle type, the vehicle’s longitudinal and lateral acceleration, and on-board forward-facing video. From the video, we further extracted information about whether the road was dry/wet and if it was day/night, and from aerial photographs of the intersections we extracted the radius of each left turn path through the intersection. From pooled data across all intersections, we identified a 3-phase longitudinal-acceleration profile
Flynn, Thomas I., McAllister, Arianna J., Wilkinson, Craig, Siegmund, Gunter P.
Occupant Restraint System Evaluation - Lateral Rollover System-Level Heavy TrucksJ2426_202103 (Current)03/01/2021
This SAE Recommended Practice describes the test procedures for conducting simulated dynamic lateral rollover restraint system tests for heavy truck applications. Its purpose is to establish recommended test procedures that will standardize restraint system testing for heavy trucks. Descriptions of the test set-up, test instrumentation, photographic/video coverage, and the test fixtures are included.
Truck Crashworthiness Committee
AVSC Best Practice for Data Collection for Automated Driving System-Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs) to Support Event AnalysisAVSC0000420200909/23/2020
As technology and functionality of vehicle systems change, so do data recording needs. In ADS-dedicated vehicles (DV), the ADS perceives the environment and handles vehicle motion control, i.e., the dynamic driving task (DDT), as described in SAE J3016. When an ADS takes the place of a human driver, its sensing, processing, and control systems necessitate new considerations for data recording. Data recording is important to crash reconstruction, system performance investigations, and event analysis. It enables industry-wide improvements in ADS safety. This best practice makes recommendations for the ADS-DV data needed to support: (1) information about what the ADS "saw" and "did" and (2) identify the technology-relevant factors that contributed to the event. The Best Practice for Data Collection for Automated Driving System Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs) to Support Event Analysis makes recommendations for the collection, storage, and retrievability of onboard motor vehicle ADS event data
Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium
Applying Automotive EDR Data to Traffic Crash Reconstruction Virtual Pre-Conference CertificationC201608/07/2020
EDR\'s were first installed in 1994 and are now installed in 99% of new light vehicles sold in the US. In the US EDR’s are not required, but vehicles with EDR’s made after 9/1/2012 must meet minimum standardized content requirements of 49 CFR, Part 563 including speed, throttle, brake on/off and Delta V. Data must be retrievable with a publicly available tool. Only a few manufacturers install EDR’s worldwide currently, but the EU and China are adopting regulations to require them in the next few years. Some manufacturers provide stability control system data far beyond the US regulation that aid in understanding vehicle movement in the 5 seconds prior to the crash. This course will provide the participant with the skills necessary to analyze EDR data that has already been imaged, apply it to crash reconstruction, and reconcile it with calculations using other data sources. The course will enable the participant to analyze current and potential future EDR data set without regard to
The Effect of Changing Vehicle Seat Stiffness: A MADYMO Sensitivity Analysis2020-01-052404/14/2020
In low-speed, rear-end collisions, the occupant in the target vehicle moves rearward relative to the vehicle and interacts with the seatback and seat bottom. Due to the direct interaction of the occupant with the seat, seat stiffness can affect the kinematics of the occupant. Generic seat stiffness values are often used as input parameters in computer programs, such as MADYMO, that are used to model low-speed, rear-end collisions and simulate occupant kinematics. To create an accident specific simulation, the model could take into account all aspects of the accident including the person involved, the subject vehicle, and the subject vehicle seat. Recent research has demonstrated that the seat stiffness of the compressible structure of the seat, comprised of foam and springs, can vary between vehicles, and also can vary between regions within a single vehicle seat. In order to examine the influence of seat stiffness on occupant kinematics and internal loads, MADYMO simulations were
Cruise, Denise R., Suderman, Bethany L., Yang, Nicholas H., Stepan, Lenka, Scher, Irving S.
Analysis of Dashcam Video for Determination of Vehicle Speed2020-01-087704/14/2020
Using dashcam video footage to extract reliable vehicle speed data can be challenging when the only available image stream comes from a camera whose optical parameters are unknown. One means of overcoming such difficulties uses visible landmarks and features within the video frame whose dimensions can be independently measured. While good results have been obtained by others using a Total Station or LiDAR to physically measure locations for such purposes, this approach could prove difficult if a site of interest is inaccessible (e.g. on a busy highway that cannot be shut down) or if relevent features of the target location have changed (e.g. due to construction or even restriping of lanes lines). As an alternative to direct scene measurement, it is proposed that measurement of features visible in overhead satellite images be used to dimension relevant features visible in the video. In this work, videos from individual dashcams and phone-based cameras were used to calculate average
Leifer, Jack, Marquez, Alvaro
A Study of Driver's Driving Concentration Based on Computer Vision Technology2020-01-057204/14/2020
Driving safety is an eternal theme of the transportation industry. In recent years, with the rapid growth of car ownership, traffic accidents have become more frequent, and the harm it brings to human society has become increasingly serious. In this context, car safety assisted driving technology has received widespread attention. As an effective means to reduce traffic accidents and reduce accident losses, it has become the research frontier in the field of traffic engineering and represents the trend of future vehicle development. However, there are still many technical problems that need to be solved. With the continuous development of computer vision technology, face detection technology has become more and more mature, and applications have become more and more extensive. This article will use the face detection technology to detect the driver's face, and then analyze the changes in driver's driving focus. Firstly, the problem of detecting the eyes and mouth status of the driver
Lin, Guan, Zhan, Zhenfei, Peng, Xiangjun, Xu, Huijie, Fu, Yue, Jiang, Ling
Prevention of Snow Accretion on Camera Lenses of Autonomous Vehicles2020-01-010504/14/2020
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the autonomous vehicles (AV) have attracted considerable attention in the automotive industry. However, different factors negatively impact the adoption of the AVs, delaying their successful commercialization. Accretion of atmospheric icing, especially wet snow, on AV sensors causes blockage on their lenses, making them prone to lose their sight, in turn, increasing potential chances of accidents. In this study, two different designs are proposed in order to prevent snow accretion on the lenses of AVs via air flow across the lens surface. In both designs, lenses made of plain glass and superhydrophobic coated glass surfaces are tested. While some researchers have shown promise of water repellency on superhydrophobic surfaces, more snow accretion is observed on the superhydrophobic surfaces, when compared to the plain glass lenses. In the experiments, snow is formed using a novel snow gun inside a walk-in cold room connected to a
Mohammadian, Behrouz, Sarayloo, Mehdi, Heil, Jamie, Sojoudi, Hossein, Robertson, Michael, Hong, Haiping, Tran, Tommy, Patil, Sunil, Krishnan, Venkatesh
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