To the thread:
Thought I'd throw a few items out there that may or may not be common knowlede as well as taking a look ahead from the perspective of one of SMU's engineers who works at ASD.
First, ITS was discovered by accident!! One of Simula's R & D people was working on trying to develop a solution to a jet engine problem that many of you may be familiar with. Remember the United flight that went down in an Iowa corn field several years ago when its hydrolics were severed when fragments from an engine's fan pierced the body of the plane? Simula was asked to come up with a fix so that such a situation would not be repeated. SMU developed a shield inside the engine cowling made of advanced composite material (like ballistic armor) that would prevent any engine pieces from exiting. During the experimentation with different composite materials, one of the engineers created a webbed nylon fibre impregnated with resins, etc that, when filled with compressed air became a semi-rigid elongated tube. ITS was born!
From that humble beginning, there now exists the potential for up to as many as twelve tubular restraints being installed in a four door vehicle (ITS, Infaltable Tubular Cushions, and knee bolsters).
Yet in the face of what would seem to be unlimited potential, my engineer friend gets more exited about a brand new product, that literally has the potential to eliminate the need for many of these safety measures, including front airbags. Its the ITTR (Inflatable Tubular Torso Restraints). Using the technology they developed in IBAHRS for the Navy, tests of ITTR have shown that by inflating the over-the-shoulder strap of the seat belt reduces movement of the body and head of the occupant both forward and back as well as to the side. My contact tells me that Lear (NYSE: LEA) is considering the development of an integrated seat that might utilize such a restraint system. Did someone mention "fireworks"???
I've rambled on enough, I guess, so I'll finish with this tidbit...my engineer contact has been to Europe several times in the last year and I know that one meeting was with Renault.
Have a great weekend y'all and God bless. |
