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A review, analysis and enumeration are presented of factors relevant to motorcycle airbag feasibility research. This includes: an update of the status of related research in the motorcycle airbag feasibility field; relevant experience and factors from the car airbag field; additional unique factors and considerations for motorcycles; and the potential need to address motorcyclist out-of-position riding; other sizes of riders; motorcycle seating layout variation; resistance to and consequences of unintended deployment on a motorcyclist; neck injury criteria and dummy neck biofidelity; injury risk-benefit considerations; environmental exposure on motorcycles; and discussion of feasibility definition and factors.

This paper summarizes a comprehensive research program of the ride qualities of long-haul trucks. Factors are identified which contribute significantly to differences in ride quality between various truck models and configurations over a range of actual operating conditions. Detailed measurements of six floor and seat accelerations and driver and passenger ride ratings were made on ten in-service trucks over five segments, ranging from “smooth” to “rough,” of a typical California freeway. The experimental methodology is reviewed and validated, and example data and preliminary comparisons between the objective and subjective measures are presented.

Results of a study to specify, develop, and test the handling characteristics of a prototype research safety vehicle are reported. Handling requirements which were used to evaluate the transient and steady state response and performance are described. These requirements and criteria were based on a review of contemporary results in the area of handling and controllability, and they combine vehicle performance envelopes and driver-centered considerations. The resulting criteria are used as handling objectives in the testing and evaluation of a prototype small sedan.

The Advanced Crash Avoidance Technologies (ACAT) program initiated by the National Highway Safety Administration had two major objectives. These were to develop a standardized Safety Impact Methodology (SIM) tool to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced technologies in avoiding and mitigating specific types of vehicle crashes; and to develop and demonstrate objective tests that are used in the SIM to verify the safety impact of a real system. Honda and Dynamic Research Inc. (DRI) have been developing and applying such SIMs for several years and have a Cooperative Agreement with NHTSA to further develop a SIM that provides an estimate of full systems safety benefits at a national level.