Impact Tests of a Near-Production Air Cushion Restraint.

A series of impact tests were accomplished to demonstrate the protection provided by an automotive air bag restraint system for the center and right front passengers. Fifteen young healthy male volunteers were impacted at velocities ranging from 14.9 to 30.8 miles per hour. Impact acceleration-time histories approximated automotive barrier crash profiles. The results of dummy tests preceding human testing are summarized and detailed test data are presented from 33 impact tests with volunteer subjects. Test data are compared with similar data collected during earlier impact tests of a prototype air bag restraint system.