The History of the Crash Test Dummy

By Clinton Courier | January 13, 2021 |

Whether you are shopping for a new car or you are satisfied with the automobile you already own, the safety of the vehicle is a top concern. One of the ways that automobile companies test the safety of new vehicles is through crash test dummies.

Sierra Sam was the name of the first crash test dummy, and the mannequin was created in 1949. Sierra Engineering Co. was under contract by the U.S. Air Force to make Sierra Sam, a 95th percentile male dummy. The Air Force wanted to use Sierra Sam to assess the safety of their aircraft ejection seats. Rocket sled tests were used to test the dummy’s effectiveness.

Crash dummies and the testing strategies used to evaluate the safety of vehicles have changed since the 1940s. It is both exciting and important to know about these advances so you can understand how manufacturers work to keep you and your family safe while you are driving.

Modern Advances to the Crash Test Dummy

GM debuted the Hybrid III crash test dummy in 1997, and they became the testing standard for vehicle manufacturers who were obligated to cooperate with the airbag safety and impact regulations issued by the government. Almost 20 years before this, in 1977, GM had developed a device to offer a biofidelic measurement instrument.

GM’s crash test dummies behaved much like humans. The Hybrid II had this innovative design and technology that was cutting-edge at the time and in keeping with the auto industry and government statutes. Sharing the Hybrid III made safety testing more accurate and reduced auto accident-related deaths and injuries worldwide.

The Hybrid III is ideal for assessing restraint systems like seat belts and airbags and offers useful data that help us understand how the human body can be injured in a car accident and prevent those injuries.

Earlier Variations of the Crash Test Dummy

In the 1960s, researchers at GM created the Hybrid I by combining the best features of two previous crash dummy models. Alderson Research Laboratories debuted the VIP-50 series in 1966 for Ford and GM. The National Bureau of Standards used the VIP-50 as well and was the first dummy created exclusively for the automotive industry.

In 1967, Sierra Sam was introduced, and the crash dummy was competitive with the previous model. However, engineers weren’t completely satisfied with Sierra Sam, so they combined VIP-50’s and Sierra Sam’s features to create Hybrid I.

Initially, Hybrid I was specific to GM, but the company eventually shared the revolutionary crash test dummy tech with its competitors during the Society of Automotive Engineers seminars.

Crash Test Dummies and the U.S. Air Force

The early use of crash test dummies was inspired by the U.S. Air Force for testing to improve ejection systems and pilot restraint in military planes. The military used crash test dummies in the 1940s and 1950s, to determine how tolerant the human body is to injury and to keep pilots and passengers safe during flights. Human volunteers were used before the invention of crash dummies, but this became increasingly dangerous as researchers tested aircraft at high speeds.

GM Proving Ground presented the initial, automated, impact sled, called the HY-GE sled. The sled was capable of emulating the acceleration that occurs before, during, and after a collision according to the force created by true-to-size vehicles. This, of course, led to the development of the modern adaptation of the crash test dummy.

Although crash test dummies have served as a way to add safety features to your vehicle, an automobile accident can still have a devastating effect on you and your family members. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, contact the offices of Maggiano Digirolamo Lizzi P.C. immediately. Our team of qualified lawyers is here to help you sort through the details of your accident and help you get the compensation you deserve. No one should be an involuntary crash test dummy in a flawed car.

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