Provide the agency, through the execution of research, the necessary scientific bases for the development of improved occupant protection devices beyond the scope of those currently used in automobiles.

In the agency's Crashworthiness priorities for the mid-nineties, countermeasures identified for higher severity crashes included the following:

(1) upgraded air bag,
(2) more timely air bag deployment,
(3) upgraded belt restraints,
(4) improved interior surface padding,
(5) precrash sensing, and
(6) side air bags.

More recent air bag performance evaluations of occupant protection in real world crashes have provided evidence of significant numbers and occupant injuries patterns which are believed to have resulted from the aggressive deployment characteristics of current air bag systems.

Air bag aggressivity has produced fatal injuries to adult drivers and passengers and children in the right front seating position. The adult fatalities have most frequently been unbelted drivers in low to moderate severity crashes. The child passenger air bag deployment related fatalities have occurred in cases of infants in rear facing child safety seats and older children, mostly unbelted or improperly belted, who were located in the front right outboard seat equipped with a passenger side air bag. Most of these fatalities have occurred in crashes of low to moderate severity in which the victim was in contact with or in close proximity to the air bag at time of deployment initiation.

Real world crash injury experience by the Special Crash Investigations conducted by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis have identified several situations under which current occupant protection systems are not achieving desired results. Some of these deficiencies are thought to be related to the aggressive nature of air bag deployments which may be addressed through design changes of the air bag systems. Research programs are being initiated to integrate many different aspects of occupant protection to mitigate injuries to out-of-position occupants. Automotive Systems Laboratory, working under a cooperative research program, is currently evaluating some potential changes in air bag systems which are aimed at improved occupant protection. Anticipatory crash sensing may provide means for earlier air bag deployment initiation in crashes and thereby allow more time for a less aggressive bag inflation than is now reasonable with current crash sensing technology. Cooperative research programs with Romeo Engineering International and Hittite Microwave Corporation evaluated means for achieving anticipatory crash sensing to allow earlier initiation and less aggressive air bag deployment. Under a second cooperative agreement Romeo Engineering International has evaluated the potentials of current inflator technology and improvement in air belt configuration and materials to provide improved occupant protection. A cooperative research agreement was initiated with Automotive Technologies International to develop new or enhanced injury countermeasures. The cooperative research effort is to adapt the ATI Rear Facing Child Seat Sensor and Occupant Out-of-Position sensor (PADD for Passenger Acoustic Detection Device) to an automobile.

The major impacts will include: improved frontal protection for cars and light trucks, the reduction of air bag deployment induced injuries, and improved occupant protection for all occupant sizes. Potential upgrade of FMVSS No. 208.

• Completion of a 14-month task order with EASi Engineering and Johnson Controls to develop a prototype Advanced Integrated Safety Seat, August 1999.
• Initiated task order agreements with UMTRI to conduct specialized air bag effectiveness studies, August 1999.
• Progress briefing by Automotive Technologies International on Rear-Facing Child Seat Sensor and Occupant Out-of-Position sensor cooperative agreement, November 1999.
• Initiated a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program for dynamic occupant sensing systems, December 1999. Proposals received, May 2000.
• Completed two-year cooperative agreement with Automotive Systems Laboratory to evaluate dual stage passenger air bags in terms of restraint performance and aggressivity for different sized occupants, January 2000. Initiated a two-year extension to complete passenger air bag assessment and begin crash analysis of seat position effects.
• Initiated contract paperwork for future cooperative agreement solicitation on advanced restraints, March 2000.
• Completion of a frontal and rear impact sled tests with prototype Advanced Integrated Safety Seats. Contractor briefing to NHTSA, April 2000.

Lori Summers
(202) 366-6734

To be determined.

Frontal, Air Bags, Air Belt, Precrash Sensing, Restraints