From page 27

examine every detail of the impact’s effect.
Analysts compare the film and videotapes with
data from sensors placed in the test cars.

The tracks can also be used for standard
barrier tests where vehicles are propelled into
a solid wall.

These tests are carried out with an 850-
tonne block, which is moved into position at

~gethe end of the track using air cushion technol-
"ony. Says Stefan Nil:son, director of the safety
centre: We can quite simply move the reality
of the roads into our crash laboratory.

Another crash tese simulator at the centre

‘involves a sledge system, which replicates a
vehicle passenger compartment. Used to
examine the effect of a crash on occupants,

computer

the unir does not involve an impact, but is
accelerated sharply backwards. According to
Volvo, this has the same effect on the dummy
occupants as if the car had driven into another
vehicle or 2a cits While this test unit
does not include full interior fittings and iim,
it docs have a steering wheel, dashboard, seat
belts and air bags.

Other Volvo Safety Centre research tools
include super computers capable of simulating
crash tests even before the first vebicle body is
built. Knowing how a planned vehicle body
structure will react to an impact before acrual-
ly building it helps automakers construct
more erash-worthy cars at reasonable cost.

— Tony Whitney's coluiin appears courtesy of
the. BC. Automobile Dealers’ Association
(BCADA).

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