Crash test dummies are very important in vehicle safety. Without them the death rate in car accidents would be higher. Dummies are used so human lives can be saved. Crash test dummies have been greatly developed over the years, they are put through many tests and these tests need to be done to help improve automobiles.First of all, the development of todays crash test dummies has required a lot of work. In 1949, the Sierra Sam was first made. It was a 95th percentile adult male dummy. It was used by the United States Air Force to test aircraft ejection seats. It had a human like exterior shape, body weight and some limb joints. The spine and neck designs had very little resemblance to humans. Mark I, created in 1952, was also a 95th percentile male. It was used by the U.S. and European Air Forces. This new design was similar to humans only in shape, size and total weight. The elbows, wrists, knees and ankles were one piece limbs which caused them to be too stiff to provide accurate data. As a result, only a few models were produced. Other dummy models, the F,B & P general purpose dummies, were produced in 1953 and was available in eight different sizes. It had a better design than previous models, and it provided better responses. This dummy was used for many purposes. It was used in the project Apollo Landing Testing, underwater escape tests, tractor-safety programs and many other automotive and aircraft programs. The use of this dummy was discontinued in the late 1960s. The Gard Dummy was developed in the 1960s and eight different sizes were made. It was used in testing aircraft ejection seats and in Navy programs. This design is still used in some tests today. The development of the VIP (Very Important People) model dummy started in 1966. Until this time, crash dummies were made to meet the standards of aircrafts. Previous dummies did not meet the needs for automobile testing. For example the dummies didnt have a pelvic structure a...
