UMTRI’s Biosciences Group conducts research on the biomechanics of motor vehicle occupants as it relates to occupant injuries, crash protection, and occupant accommodation. Biosciences researchers use state-of-the-art laboratory testing facilities, computer modeling, and data analysis techniques to conduct a wide range of research. The scope of Biosciences work encompasses these main areas:

• Impact biomechanics, involving lab work with human surrogates to study the response of the human body to dynamic loading
• Computational human body modeling to assess the effects of crashes and other loading scenarios on human response and injury
• Engineering anthropometry and vehicle ergonomics, including extensive testing with volunteers to characterize their posture, motion, and body shape while interacting with vehicles, seats, and other systems
• Crash data analysis to identify the mechanisms involved in motor-vehicle injury and assess the performance of occupant protection systems