Field Trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By far, the coolest thing I've been able to do with my job was to go to the IIHS Vehicle Research Center yesterday. There is nothing like seeing a bunch of really expensive convertibles wrapped around poles.
The indentation of the pole in this one was so crazy.
This is a smashed up brand new red Mustang convertible. It makes me throw up a little in my mouth.
This is a blue one they also smashed up.
After we got to walk around and see already smashed up cars, we got to see a side-impact crash test of a brand new shiney red Volvo convertible. It was such a rush.
This is all the researchers standing around it before it got smashed.
We got to watch from some scaffolding over the thing that hits the car. Once this last guy left and they rolled all the computers into a room and shut a rolling door, they started the 4 minute count down to impact. After the system was charged, and the battering ram started rolling at the car, all the lights went out, and then the really bright lights all around the car turned on and then it hit the car. The car went skidding several feet and then there was a smell of burning.
This is the "Countdown to Impact" timer. Immediately after the crash test, high speed re-plays of the crash are shown.
This is the immediate aftermath. Seconds after the crash, all the researchers scurry out, lead by a guy with a broom sweeping up glass. They roll all the computers back out and hook them up to the dummies so they can get diagnostics immediately. You can see the skid marks of how far the car was pushed after the impact.
A few minutes after, they let us come down and walk all around the car. In this picture, you can see the side curtain air bags inflated and protected the dummies' heads. If that hadn't been there, their heads would have hit the "SUV" that impacted the car. Scary.
This is the "SUV" that hit the car. I was surprised the convertible did that much damage to the barrier.
This is the opposite side of the car from the impact, where they have all the data collecting equipment.
This poor dummy's head hit the side of the car--ow! It turns out they had a problem and the rear dummy lost power during the test so they may have to re-do it!
Wow, over all it was an incredible show, I wish I could work there! If you want to watch the 2 1/2 minute long video of the entire crash, you can see it here: Video I learned so much about different safety features and where they are located on the car and how they work. It makes me want to get rid of my car and get one with Electronic Stability Control and side-curtain airbags! I'd rather have my head hit an airbag than the hood of an SUV!
The indentation of the pole in this one was so crazy.
This is a smashed up brand new red Mustang convertible. It makes me throw up a little in my mouth.
This is a blue one they also smashed up.
After we got to walk around and see already smashed up cars, we got to see a side-impact crash test of a brand new shiney red Volvo convertible. It was such a rush.
This is all the researchers standing around it before it got smashed.
We got to watch from some scaffolding over the thing that hits the car. Once this last guy left and they rolled all the computers into a room and shut a rolling door, they started the 4 minute count down to impact. After the system was charged, and the battering ram started rolling at the car, all the lights went out, and then the really bright lights all around the car turned on and then it hit the car. The car went skidding several feet and then there was a smell of burning.
This is the "Countdown to Impact" timer. Immediately after the crash test, high speed re-plays of the crash are shown.
This is the immediate aftermath. Seconds after the crash, all the researchers scurry out, lead by a guy with a broom sweeping up glass. They roll all the computers back out and hook them up to the dummies so they can get diagnostics immediately. You can see the skid marks of how far the car was pushed after the impact.
A few minutes after, they let us come down and walk all around the car. In this picture, you can see the side curtain air bags inflated and protected the dummies' heads. If that hadn't been there, their heads would have hit the "SUV" that impacted the car. Scary.
This is the "SUV" that hit the car. I was surprised the convertible did that much damage to the barrier.
This is the opposite side of the car from the impact, where they have all the data collecting equipment.
This poor dummy's head hit the side of the car--ow! It turns out they had a problem and the rear dummy lost power during the test so they may have to re-do it!
Wow, over all it was an incredible show, I wish I could work there! If you want to watch the 2 1/2 minute long video of the entire crash, you can see it here: Video I learned so much about different safety features and where they are located on the car and how they work. It makes me want to get rid of my car and get one with Electronic Stability Control and side-curtain airbags! I'd rather have my head hit an airbag than the hood of an SUV!