Following recent updates to the Euro NCAP for Pedestrian Protection, MGA has added the Pedestrian Detection Impactor (PDI) to its impact testing capabilities. This latest revision to the Euro NCAP included the addition of active hood system requirements. Vehicles that have active hoods must deploy the hood with the hardest-to-detect test dummy hitting the vehicle. Most often this is the six year-old child dummy, as it is the smallest and has the least mass.          

For vehicles with deployable bonnets or hoods, part of the assessment depends upon the functionality of its detection sensor. For higher safety ratings, assessment scores, and improved occupant injury, any vehicles being designed will employ such devices as active hood systems and/or bumper detection systems to assist in reducing pedestrian injury values during a vehicle-to-pedestrian crash event.   In such a case, typically the pedestrian’s leg will hit the lower bumper, followed by their hip loading into the upper bumper or bonnet leading edge, and then finally their head impacting with the hood. The bumper sensors send a signal to deploy the car hood when a pedestrian strike is detected. The hood pops up so that when the pedestrian’s head reaches the hood, the hood can absorb much more energy instead of immediately hitting a hard point under the hood. These added systems allow the hood to move out of the closed position to create more deflection and afford additional occupant protection when the pedestrian strikes it.      

MGA has been involved in Pedestrian Protection for years, testing on full vehicles, as well as on the component-level basis, including lower leg, upper leg, headform, and now pedestrian sensor testing. If you are interested in learning more about Pedestrian Protection testing, contact DJ Whiteside (dj.whiteside@mgaresearch.com) at (248) 577-5001.