GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Virtual testing tools are crucial for new more efficient evaluation methods, and accordingly further development of human body models (HBM) is particularly important. The effectiveness of new systems should for instance be assessed in a wide range of crash load cases, which the current test dummies cannot support, and another possibility with the use of virtual HBM will be to evaluate integrated and adaptive safety at a significantly higher level of detail. The potential of HBM to be usable for the evaluation of long-term injuries in product development is strong and will be supported by further multidisciplinary research. Research is also needed to assess any limitations in this respect and, if applicable, examine how best to complement HBM with Anthropomorphic Test Devices and physical tools.

Virtual HBM need to reflect human variability, and there is a particular need to focus attention on children in all different road user roles, e.g. preteens in passenger vehicles who normally are not seated in child seats, yet often too small to be fully protected by current vehicle integrated safety systems.

New and upgraded vehicle interiors (including non-conventional seating and new interior features) of highly automated passenger cars, shuttle buses (including minibuses), and other driverless passenger vehicles, will play an important role in the efforts to raise the road safety level further regarding passenger vehicles. Persons who are standing, for instance passengers in public transport, should also be included. Market drivers (e.g. increased automation, comfort, and infotainment) will be reinforced with safety-intended development strategies when supported by relevant research and policies regarding long-term consequences.

Findings, knowledge, and experience are encouraged to be shared with other fields, such as certain sport, recreation, and work activities, as well as with other transport modes, which may have similar issues regarding personal injuries with long-term consequences as road traffic, although a different incidence.