Development of an evaluation tool for a driving seat reducing neck injury based on mechanical impedance

The importance of developing a driving seat effective for reducing neck injuries caused by rear-end collisions has been increased to produce a safer automobile against vehicle accidents in recent years. The present paper develops a computer simulator based on a mechanical impedance model for analyzing and designing an effective driving seat reducing neck injuries. The simulator can reproduce dynamic behaviors of a dummy doll measured in an actual test of rear-end collision. Effectiveness of an active headrest, which is developed for reducing neck injuries, is quantitatively evaluated through a set of computer simulations.