This project strives ultimately to eliminate 90% of the 3,000 deaths and 34,000 injuries each year in the US from heavy truck and bus frontal collisions with cars, SUV's, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Livvon LLC is developing a bumper airbag system that could achieve this 90% reduction. Phase I of this project used non-linear, dynamic, finite element analysis and computational fluid mechanics to model the airbags in collisions and cross winds. The models were used to explore improvements in the design and optimize it for reducing overall costs. The optimum design produced was large enough to reduce injuries and deaths by 99% each. In Phase ll, Livvon will build the airbag system and test it in the Transportation Research Center Proving Ground Collision Laboratory. The airbag will be mounted on a collision wall, and cars with crash dummies will be towed into it. The airbag will be mounted on an impact trolley and towed into crash dummy pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. These results will verify the simulations and may lead to new improvements for further injury reduction. Several rounds of testing and improving are scheduled. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II (R44)
Project #
2R44CE000180-02
Application #
7110604
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-HOP-H (11))
Program Officer
Smutz, Paul
Project Start
2006-09-01
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2007-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$375,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Livvon, LLC
Department
Type
DUNS #
131986742
City
Alpha
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45301
Mirman, Jessica H; Curry, Allison E; Zonfrillo, Mark R et al. (2014) Caregivers' confidence in performing child safety seat installations: what matters most? Inj Prev 20:167-71