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A methodology was developed for predicting the human response from ATD (Anthropomorphic Test Device) tests or for improving the biofidelity of the ATD response. The ATD response and human response are considered as the output of a black box system, from which the relationship between the ATD tests and human tests was established using wavelet analysis. Based on the decompositions of both responses on a wavelet packet basis, a mapping matrix is built after executing a procedure that includes de-noising and compression, energy distribution analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis, and spectral coherence analysis and transfer function analysis. With the mapping matrix, an ATD response is modified or reconstructed into the corresponding human response. The practical use of the methodology was illustrated in the analysis of a series of lateral impact tests conducted on a horizontal impulse accelerator with an ATD and human volunteers as the test subjects.

As accurate measuring of head accelerations is an important aspect in predicting head injury, it is important that the measuring sensor be well-coupled to the head. Various sensors and sensor mounting schemes have been attempted in the past with varying results. This study uses a small, implantable acceleration sensor pack in the ear to study impact coupling with the human skull. The output from these ear-mounted accelerometers is compared to laboratory reference accelerometers rigidly attached to the skull of two cadaveric head specimens for both low-amplitude oscillatory tests and high-amplitude impact drop tests. The combination of sensor type and mounting scheme demonstrates the feasibility of using ear mounted sensors to predict head acceleration response. Previously reported progressive phase lag was not seen in this study, with the comparison between ear mounted accelerometers and rigidly mounted head accelerometers ranging from very good to excellent.