Hiroto Kido has developed Mazda’s crash safety technology since 2005, and explains why the tests continue to be important: “We carry out a lot of crash tests in virtual environments. After verifying that it is a safe car by simulation, it is necessary to curry out tests using real car. “We look at how impact on the occupants can be minimize in a crash. This involves analyzing the car’s structure down to the smallest detail, and also verifying the effects of various safety equipment.”
Kido acknowledges the speed with which computer simulations have progressed is amazing, and that he and his colleagues increasingly use this technology. However actual crash testing remains the final hurdle before a production model makes it on to the road. Indeed, it’s the final step of a process that starts at the beginning of a car’s journey to production. Kido explains: “Our involvement with the development of a new model starts right at the beginning, discussing safety plans in depth with the product manager, designer and chief engineer. Safety has to be a key consideration; where and how, for instance, the engine or the passenger’s seats are positioned in the car. “Then we simulate how much g-force would be experienced by an occupant in the event of an accident where a car slams into another one at a certain g-force. Based on the numbers and data gained from these computer simulations, we investigate further how the impact on the occupant could be minimized.” The all-important numbers in an actual crash test are collected from sensors attached to the car and the dummies. “There are about 50 sensors in the car while an adult passenger dummy has about 100 sensors attached throughout the body, so there is a lot of data to be collected from each crash test,” says Kido.