Initial Evaluation of Underrepresented Occupants in Highly Autonomous Vehicles using VIVA+ Human Body Model

Abstract

To facilitate the development and employment of Highly Autonomous Vehicles (HAVs) to the road, there is an obligation to enhance occupant safety of all HAV-users. The unique challenges to safety systems are compounded by the greater user variety and seating configurations presented by HAVs. Therefore, a preliminary investigation was conducted of state-of-the-art (SoA) and novel seat integrated seatbelt configurations and their efficacy of reducing injury risk of underrepresented occupants via Finite Element Sled-test simulations were evaluated, using open-source models. The 50th percentile female was represented by the Human Body Model (HBM) VIVA+50F (50F). Additionally, the VIVA+50F was adapted to represent a 50th percentile female occupant with loss of a limb (50DF). The posture of the occupants was defined by seating measurement data of DLR’s Urban Modular Vehicle People Mover (UMV PM) prototype vehicle and the sled-pulse utilized that of the OSCCAR EU project for frontal collision.