[imagesource:freepik]

In the realm of automotive safety testing, a pioneering breakthrough is on the horizon and she goes by the name of SET 50F.

This revolutionary creation is the world’s first female crash test dummy, meticulously engineered to enhance safety measures for women in vehicles.

Traditionally, car manufacturers have relied on crash tests conducted with dummies modelled after male proportions, a practice dating back to the 1970s.

However, statistics have consistently shown that women face a higher risk of injury in frontal collisions. While smaller-sized versions of male dummies have sometimes been employed to represent women and children, these models failed to account for the distinctive anatomical differences in female bodies.

Astrid Linder, an engineer at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), sought to rectify this oversight by creating “the world’s first average-sized female crash test dummy”.

SET 50F is the product of careful research that was undertaken at a warehouse located in Linkoping, Sweden. To run tests, the dummy is securely fastened into a car seat mounted on a metal rail and propelled at a speed of 16 kilometres per hour before coming to an abrupt stop.

A monitoring screen captures the moment of impact, with the dummy’s chest visibly distinguishing it from a standard male crash test dummy.

Tommy Petterson, a colleague of Linder’s at VTI, has explained that the neck of the dummy is crafted to emphasise the inherent differences of the female form.

“The muscles in the neck are normally weaker in a woman. If you compare it with a male dummy, this neck is more flexible and has more movement.”

SET 50F is equipped with 24 sensors, stands at 162 centimetres, and weighs 62 kilograms; 15 centimetres shorter and 15 kilograms lighter than a male crash test dummy. Her shoulders are also narrower and her hips are wider.

These distinctions, combined with her lower centre of gravity, play a pivotal role in assessing the unique risks women face in car accidents.

Statistics reveal a significant disparity between men and women in non-fatal injuries, often leading to lifelong suffering, so SET 50F is a huge step forward in determining how to protect everyone effectively.

A 2019 study conducted by the University of Virginia in the United States found that women are 73% more likely than men to sustain injuries in a frontal collision. They are also twice as likely to experience whiplash injuries due to the morphology of their necks and the design of neck supports in cars.

While some car manufacturers, including Volvo in Sweden, have already started utilising SET 50F, there are currently no international regulations mandating the inclusion of female crash test dummies in safety testing. Astrid Linder calls upon legislators to address this oversight.

Emily Thomas, Head of Automobile Testing at the US non-profit organisation Consumer Reports, has explained that there has been a historical focus on men’s safety in vehicles.

“In our society and culture, for a long time, we focused on keeping men safe in vehicles because initially that’s how the culture was. It was predominantly men that were driving. And even though the culture shifted, unfortunately the safety innovations didn’t shift along with it.”

Linder aims to produce additional copies of SET 50F to raise awareness and advocate for change on a global scale.

Women’s Month may officially be over, but women like Linder keep showing us why the intersections of innovation and gender matter.

[source:news24]