Seat Movement Relative to the Passenger Compartment—A Possible Method to Improve Passenger Protection During Frontal Impacts

The present study is meant to prove in a theoretical way that a controlled seat movement relative to the passenger compartment will result into an improvement of passenger deceleration during vehicle frontal impacts.

This effect could be of advantage in some respects: as possible alternative for the most favourable design of the energy absorbing zones of a vehicle, as an additional safety device for the occupants of heavy vehicles with relatively soft impact absorbing zones in case of crashes against rigid obstacles, and in small vehicles where only little space exists for passenger protection.

With regard to the complexity of this subject, the study at hand must be regarded as a first step towards the final solution of the problem.