[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40281-40301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13659]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 572

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-21247]
RIN 2127-AJ49


Anthropomorphic Test Devices; Hybrid III-10 Year Old Child Test 
Dummy

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: Today's NPRM proposes specifications and qualification 
requirements for the new test dummy that is representative of a 10-
year-old child. NHTSA plans to use the new 10-year-old child test dummy 
to test child restraints under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
No. 213 and in other applications. The dummy has the capability to be 
placed in a slouched posture, which allows the evaluation of vehicle 
belt systems under real world occupant conditions.

DATES: You should submit your comments early enough to ensure that 
Docket Management receives them not later than September 12, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by the DOT DMS Docket 
Number) by any of the following methods:
     Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 am 
and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number or Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public 
Participation heading of the Supplementary Information section of this 
document. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information provided. 
Please see the Privacy Act discussion under the Public Participation 
heading.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-
401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except 
Federal Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For non-legal issues, you may call 
Stan Backaitis, NHTSA Office of Crashworthiness Standards (telephone 
202-366-4912). For legal issues, you may call Chris Calamita, NHTSA 
Office of Chief Counsel (telephone 202-366-2992). You may send mail to 
these officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Anton's Law
II. Overview
III. Background
    A. Need for the dummy
    B. Evolution of the dummy
IV. General Description

[[Page 40282]]

    A. Biofidelic consistency of the HIII 10-year-old dummy with the 
Hybrid III 50th percentile component responses
    B. Repeatability and reproducibility
    C. Component tests
    D. Sled tests
V. The Dummy's Response Sensitivity and Structural Durability
    A. Sensitivity of responses to booster seat design
    B. Sensitivity of response to dummy's posture
    C. Sensitivity of the dummy in three point belt applications
    D. Sensitivity of dummy response and durability in NCAP pulse 
and different restraint systems
    E. Dummy performance in OOP Environment
    1. Test Set-Up
    2. General Observations
    3. Neck Durability
    4. Response Differences Due to Dummy Makes
    5. Dummy Positioning
VI. Proposed Calibration Tests
    A. Head drop specification
    B. Neck pendulum test
    C. Knee impact
    D. Thorax impact
    E. Torso flexion
VII. Benefits and Costs
VIII. Public Participation
IX. Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

I. Anton's Law

    On December 4, 2002, the President signed Pub. L. 107-318, 
``Anton's Law,'' in order ``to provide for the improvement of the 
safety of child restraints in passenger motor vehicles, and other 
purposes.'' Section 4 of Anton's Law directed that:
    (a) Not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary [of Transportation] shall develop and evaluate 
an anthropomorphic test device that simulates a 10-year-old child for 
use in testing child restraints used in passenger motor vehicles;
    (b) Within 1 year following the development and evaluation carried 
out under subsection (a), the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking 
proceeding for the adoption of anthropomorphic test device as developed 
under subsection (a).
    In September 2004, the agency completed evaluation of the HIII-10C 
and tentatively determined that it is suitable for use in testing child 
restraints.

II. Overview

    Today's NPRM proposing to adopt specifications and performance 
criteria for the HIII-10C into 49 CFR Part 572 initiates the rulemaking 
referenced in Section 4(b) of Anton's Law. The test dummy is based on 
recent growth charts for U.S. children and scaled measurements from the 
Hybrid III family of dummies. The Hybrid III 10-year-old test dummy 
(referred to as the ``HIII-10C'') has a seated height of 2 feet 5 
inches, a standing height of 4 feet 3 inches, and weighs 77.6 pounds 
(35 kilograms). By seated height and weight it very closely 
approximates the average 10-year-old child in the U.S. Additionally, 
the HIII-10C has been designed to more closely replicate the posture of 
older children than current Hybrid III test dummies, which can enable 
the dummy to more closely replicate older children interacting with 
seat belt systems. The HIII-10C has an adjustable lumbar spine that 
allows the dummy to slouch and a shoulder construction that provides a 
more representative interaction of the shoulder and shoulder belt.
    Consideration is underway at NHTSA on using the HIII-10C in 
compliance tests of child restraints under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, ``Child restraint systems'' (49 CFR 571.213). 
The agency is proposing to expand the applicability of the standard to 
restraints recommended for children weighing up to 80 pounds (36 
kilograms). The proposed amendment to FMVSS No. 213 is intended to 
ensure that all child restraint systems, including booster seats, are 
robustly assessed to make sure that they would perform soundly in a 30 
mile per hour (mph) crash when used by children at the upper limit of 
their recommended weight range (e.g., up to 80 lb). The agency 
tentatively believes that the dummy is a sound test device that will 
provide valuable data in assessing the potential for injury of child 
restraint system (CRS) occupants that weigh more than 50 lb in a 30 mph 
crash.

III. Background

A. Need for the Dummy

    The agency has long recognized the need for a test dummy 
representative of a child larger than that currently represented by the 
Hybrid III 6-year-old test dummy (HIII-6YO). Some child restraint 
manufacturers began offering child restraints for children weighing 50 
lb and greater. The agency has wanted to expand the applicability of 
FMVSS No. 213 to increase the likelihood that child restraints will 
provide robust protection for a wider array of children. This interest 
goes hand-in-hand with efforts to increase booster seat use among 
children who have outgrown their harness-equipped child safety seat, 
but who cannot adequately fit a vehicle's lap and shoulder belt system. 
(The agency advises that children between the ages of 4-to 8-years of 
age should remain in a belt-positioning booster seat and secured with a 
vehicle's lap/shoulder belt, unless they are a minimum 4 feet and 9 
inches tall.)
    Agency reports have indicated that older children do not fit 
properly into vehicle safety belt systems without the use of a child 
restraint system (e.g., a belt-positioning booster seat). This poor fit 
is due to the fact that children have highly sloped shoulders and tend 
to sit slouched in vehicle seats because their legs are too short to 
maintain an upright seat posture. In a crash, slouched child show a 
tendency to ``submarine;'' i.e., the child may slide under the lap 
belt, which in most cases causes the lap belt to load the abdomen, 
while the shoulder belt may migrate into the child's upper neck area. 
In such an event a child would be exposed to forces that could result 
in serious abdomen, lumbar and cervical spine injuries.
    Use of a belt-positioning booster seat improves the fit of a 
vehicle's lap/shoulder belt system for children 10 years of age and 
younger. In conjunction with a vehicle's lap/shoulder belt, a belt-
positioning booster provides a 5-to 8-year-old child with the same 
level of safety as a 9-to 14-year-old child receives from use of a lap/
shoulder belt only. When used in conjunction with a booster seat, the 
effectiveness of a lap/shoulder belt for a child between the ages of 5 
and 8 years improves from 48 percent to 54 percent.\1\
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    \1\ See, ``Effectiveness of Lap/Shoulder Belts in the Back 
Outboard Seating Positions,'' Evaluation Division, Plans and Policy, 
NHTSA. Washington, DC, June 1999. DOT HS 808 945.
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    Adding a new child test dummy to the array of devices used to test 
child restraints will enhance child passenger safety. Currently, the 
oldest child represented by an instrumented dummy in FMVSS No. 213 is a 
6-year-old child. The agency has tentatively determined that the HIII-
10C will permit a useful evaluation of booster seats that are 
recommended for children weighing up to 80 lb (36 kg), and help ensure 
that these restraints meet the dynamic test requirements of FMVSS No. 
213.

B. Evolution of the Dummy

    In 1994, the agency began to investigate if the introduction of a 
test dummy larger than the 6-year-old test dummy would benefit the 
development of safety improvements in occupant restraint systems. 
Initially, the agency considered the P10 test dummy, which is part of 
the P series of test dummies used primarily in Europe. The P10 was 
intended to replicate the size and weight of a 10-year-old child. 
However, the agency had concerns with the

[[Page 40283]]

stability and predictability of the P10's kinematic structure, its 
limited instrumentation capabilities, and the fact that it weighs 10 
lbs. less than the average 10-year-old child. As a result of these 
concerns, the agency decided against using the P10.
    The agency initiated discussions in 1999 with the Hybrid III Dummy 
Family Task Group (DFTG) at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 
on the need to develop a child type test dummy approximating the 
average 10-year-old. DFTG noted that such a dummy would be useful in 
the evaluation of booster seats and the injury causing potential of 
passenger side air bags, and agreed to develop a Hybrid III 10-year-old 
dummy.\2\ By the spring of 2001 the first prototype was constructed 
under a collaborative effort between dummy manufacturers First 
Technology Safety Systems (FTSS) and Denton ATD (Denton).\3\ After 
preliminary testing and minor modifications, the agency was furnished a 
production prototype of the DFTG-approved dummy for its initial 
assessment. Subsequently, the agency bought two dummies for more 
rigorous testing and evaluation.
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    \2\ H.J. Mertz, et al., ``The Hybrid III 10-Year-Old Dummy,'' 
2001-22-0014, Proceedings, Stapp Car Crash Conference, Vol. 
45, November 2001, The Stapp Association.
    \3\ FTSS manufactured the head, neck, upper extremities, and 
upper torso of the prototype. Denton manufactured the lower half of 
the dummy, including the pelvis and lower extremities. Subsequently, 
the manufacturers have exchanged drawings allowing each one to 
manufacture a complete dummy.
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    During the development of the 10-year-old dummy, the Transportation 
Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act (Pub. 
L. 106-414, November 1, 2000) was signed. The TREAD Act in part 
directed that the agency determine whether the safety of children would 
be improved if additional anthropomorphic test devices were used, 
including a test dummy representative of a 10-year-old dummy. NHTSA 
updated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213 in 
response to the TREAD Act (68 FR 37620; June 24, 2003; Docket No. 
15351), but the 10-year-old dummy was not sufficiently developed for 
inclusion in that rulemaking.

IV. General Description

    The HIII-10C was targeted to represent a 10-year-old child as 
defined by the National Center for Health Statistics for the Center for 
Disease Control (NCHS-CDC) growth charts published in December 2000 for 
children between 2 and 20 years of age and has the same general 
construction as the adult dummies of the Hybrid III dummy family. The 
HIII-10C has a seated height of 2 feet 5 inches, a weight of 77.6 
pounds, and a standing height of 4 feet 3 inches. Table I below 
compares the major characteristics of the dummy with the U.S. growth 
charts.

                                                     Table I.--Comparison of Test Dummies and People
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                                                 Seated Height**, **** (feet &                       Weight (lb)*, ****          Standing Height (feet &
                                                            inches)                         ------------------------------------   inches)*, ***, ****
                                             ------------------------------------   H-III                                       ------------------------
                                                H-III     People  (min/ave/max)               People  (min/ave/max)     H-III     People  (min/ave/max)
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5th Percentile Female.......................      2'7''      (2'4''/2'7''/2'9'')        108            (101/106/117)     4'11''      (4'8''4'11''/5'1'')
10-year-old.................................      2'5''      (2'2''/2'4''/2'6'')       77.6        (57.7/79.3/120.2)      4'3''      (4'4''/4'8''/5'1'')
6-year-old..................................      2'1''     (1'10''/2'0''/2'2'')       51.6         (37.2/47.2/75.5)      3'9''     (3'7''/3'11''/4'3'')
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* Data from CDC Growth Charts (1988-1994), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 4, 2000.
** Anthropometry of U.S. Infants and Children, SAE SP-394, 1975 SAE Automotive Engineering Congress and Exhibition, Detroit, MI, 1975. '
*** Erect posture; calculated, rounded to the nearest whole number (dummies are built in seated posture).
**** Average of male and female.

    Table I demonstrates that the HIII-10C fits reasonably well between 
the 6-year-old and 5th percentile adult female test dummies. (A 5th 
percentile adult female is about the size of a 12-year-old.)
    Additional anthropomorphic dimensions and masses of the HII-10C 
were based on scaling those specifications from the HIII 50th 
percentile adult male dummy rather than the 5th percentile female 
dummy. The decision to scale down from the male dummy was based on the 
fact that the 50th percentile male dummy was supported by a well 
established biomechanical database, while all other Hybrid III dummies 
were scaled down versions from the 50th percentile male dummy. 
Accordingly, there was no advantage to scale down from another dummy.
    Information on the HIII-10C key exterior dimensions and weights for 
the major body sections are included in the drawing package, which is 
included in the docket for this notice.
    Similar to the construction of adult dummies in the Hybrid III 
family, the 10-year-old dummy consists of an articulated, damped steel 
``skeleton'' that is covered by foam and plastic simulating human flesh 
and skin. However, the lumbar spine is constructed of a butyl rubber 
cylinder with an adjusting bracket located between the lumbar spine and 
pelvis bone. This adjusting bracket allows for upper torso orientation 
adjustment of approximately 24 degrees relative to the lower torso to 
simulate a range of normal and ``slouched'' seating positions. Slouch 
is a critical design feature, because children not in booster seats 
tend to slouch to keep the underside of their knees from interfering 
with the front edge of a vehicle seat as their legs bend over the edge 
of the seat. As explained above, this slouched posture has the 
potential to result in abdominal and neck injuries from a vehicle's lap 
and shoulder belt in a crash. The slouched position would allow the 
HIII-10C to provide data on the interaction of a vehicle belt system 
and older children seated in this posture.
    The specifications for the HIII-10C would consist of: (a) A drawing 
package containing all of the technical details of the dummy; (b) a 
parts list; and (c) a user manual containing instructions for 
inspection, assembly, disassembly, use, and adjustments of dummy 
components (PADI). These drawings and specifications would ensure that 
the dummies would be the same in their design, construction, and 
kinematics. In addition, three-dimensional engineering aids are 
available from the NHTSA website for complex dummy part dimensions. 
While these aids are not part of this specification, they can be used 
by the public for reference purposes. The performance calibration

[[Page 40284]]

tests proposed in this NPRM would serve to assure that the HIII-10C 
responses are within the established biomechanical corridors and 
further assure the uniformity of dummy assembly, structural integrity, 
consistency of response and adequacy of instrumentation. As a result, 
the repeatability of the dummy's impact response would be ensured.
    Drawings and specifications for the HIII-10C are available for 
examination in the NHTSA docket section. Copies of those materials and 
the user manual may also be obtained from Leet-Melbrook, Division of 
New RT, 18810 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879, tel. (301) 670-
0090.
    A technical report and other materials describing the HIII-10C in 
detail have been placed in the docket for today's NPRM.

A. Biofidelic Consistency of the HIII 10-Year-Old Dummy With the Hybrid 
III 50th Percentile Component Responses

    An important characteristic of a dummy for use as a test tool is 
how well it simulates a human undergoing impact, a property otherwise 
known as biofidelity. For adult sized dummies such as the Hybrid III 
50th percentile male, the component responses can be compared directly 
to post-mortem human subject (PMHS) response data to assess 
biofidelity. Due to the scarcity of biomechanical data for children, 
response corridors for child dummies have to be constructed by scaling 
adult PMHS data, using geometric factors such as mass and length. Given 
the current lack of pediatric data, if it is accepted that the HIII 
50th percentile male dummy has adequate biofidelity,\4\ the biofidelity 
of the HIII-10C can be assessed by comparing the child dummy responses 
to response specification data (certification data) scaled from the 
adult dummy.
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    \4\ Foster, et al. (1977). ``Hybrid III--A Biomechanically-Based 
Crash Test Dummy,'' Proc. Twenty-First Stapp Car Crash Conference, 
SAE 770938. Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA.
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    Following this approach, the SAE DFTG examined the response of the 
HIII-10C head, neck, thorax and knee and determined that prototype 
HIII-10C components displayed an acceptable level of biofidelity with 
respect to the scaled corridors.\5\ Scaling relationships developed by 
Irwin and Mertz \6\ were used by NHTSA to define the biomechanical 
response corridors of the HIII-10C as compared to the HIII 50th 
percentile male data. Following the International Standard Organization 
(ISO) TR 9790 biofidelity scaling procedure,\7\ the head and knee of 
the dummy could be given a rating of 10, and the neck and thorax a 
rating of 5, indicating that no components have unacceptable 
biofidelity. This methodology yields an overall biofidelity assessment 
of ``excellent'' which is in agreement with the DFTG assessment.
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    \5\ Mertz, et al., (2001). ``The Hybrid III 10-Year-Old Dummy,'' 
Proc. Forty-Fifth Stapp Car Crash Conference, Paper 2001-22-0014.
    \6\ Irwin and Mertz (1997), ``Biomechanical Bases for the CRABI 
and Hybrid III Child Dummies,'' Proceedings, 41st Stapp Car Crash 
Conference, SAE 973317, SAE, Warrendale, PA.
    \7\ Scherer et al., Proceedings, 42nd Stapp Car Crash 
Conference, SAE 983151, SAE, Warrendale, PA.
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    The NHTSA Bio Rank System \8\ was applied to HIII-10C dummy 
component peak responses from testing at VRTC \9\ for the head, neck, 
thorax, and knees to quantify how well they fit within their respective 
certification corridors derived from scaling. The dummy's cumulative 
variance (DCV) was calculated as the absolute value of the difference 
between the mean dummy peak response and mean value from the scaled 
certification corridor for each individual measurement. The cadaver 
cumulative variance (CCV), normally the accumulated standard deviation 
of a sample of human data, was modified to be one-fourth of the 
tolerance presented in the scaled 50th certification corridor. This 
assumes that the certification corridor is the mean plus or minus two 
standard deviations:\10\
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    \8\ Rhule, et al., (2002). ``Development of a New Biofidelity 
Ranking System for Anthropomorphic Test Devices,'' Proc. 46th Stapp 
Car Crash Conference, Paper 2002-22-0024.
    \9\ Stammen, J. ``Technical Evaluation of the Hybrid III Ten 
Year Old Dummy (HIII-10C),'' September 2004.
    \10\ Rhule, ibid.
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13JY05.165
    
    A DCV/CCV value of 2.0 or below indicates that particular HIII-10C 
component response is within two standard deviations of the HIII-50th 
scaled data. In other words, the next HIII-10C component can be 
considered to respond as much like the scaled data as a HIII-50th 
component would match the corresponding adult corridor. Table II 
summarizes the DCV/CCV values for each component measurement.

                    Table II.--DCV/CCV Values for HIII-10C Component Responses in VRTC Tests
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Dummy data  (N=2)            Scaled corridor
                 Component                 --------------------------------------------------------    DCV/CCV
                                                Mean         Std dev        Mean         Std dev
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head:
    Resultant (g).........................         277             6           267.5         13.75          0.69
Neck Flexion:
    Moment (Nm)...........................          54.8           1.9          58            3.5           0.91
    Rotation (deg)........................          81.7           2            81            3.5           0.20
Neck Extension:
    Moment (Nm)...........................          41.5           1.9          41            3             0.17
    Rotation (deg)........................         107.7           2.7         106.3          3.7           0.36
Thorax:
    Deflection (mm).......................          45.8           1            43            2             1.40
    Force (N).............................        2202           107          2080           25             0.98
    Hysteresis (%)........................          74.2           1.5          75            5             0.40
Knee:
    Force (N).............................        2819           106          2850          145             0.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As seen in Table II, all nine of the HIII-10C component responses 
based on two dummies had DCV/CCV values below 2.0 (in fact, all but the 
thorax had values less than 1.0), indicating that each response is 
within 2 standard

[[Page 40285]]

deviations of the mean of the HIII-10C scaled corridors. As noted 
earlier, there is no human pediatric data for direct HIII-10C dummy 
biofidelity evaluation. However, because the HIII-10C components are 
consistent with the HIII-50th components and Foster (id.) showed that 
the HIII-50th components were consistent with human component response 
data, NHTSA believes that the components of this dummy have acceptable 
biofidelity.\11\
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    \11\ Foster, ibid.
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B. Repeatability and Reproducibility

    A dummy's repeatability \12\ and reproducibility \13\ are typically 
based on the performance of the most critical body segments, as 
components and as a complete dummy system. A dummy and its components 
must respond within boundaries that relate to biomechanical corridors. 
In the tests for repeatability and reproducibility, impact input as 
well as the test equipment are carefully controlled to minimize 
external effects on a dummy's response. Component tests are typically 
better controlled and thus produce more reliable estimates of the 
dummy's repeatability and reproducibility than is possible in sled and 
vehicle tests. Component tests identify whether a component will 
respond properly in impact tests. Sled tests, on the other hand, offer 
a method of efficiently evaluating a dummy as a complete system in an 
environment much like a vehicle test. Sled tests establish the 
consistency of the dummy's kinematics, its impact response as an 
assembly, and the integrity of a dummy's structure and instrumentation 
under controlled and crash-representative test conditions.
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    \12\ Repeatability is defined as a similarity of responses of a 
single dummy measured under identical repeated test conditions.
    \13\ Reproducibility is defined as response similarity between 
different dummies of the same design under identical test 
conditions.
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    The repeatability and reproducibility of dummy responses are 
assessed by coefficient of variation (cv) values of impact responses 
(coefficient of variation = standard deviation divided by the mean). 
This approach was introduced for automotive dummy assessment in 1974 at 
the Third International Conference of Occupant Protection (154 FR 369, 
August 9, 1975) as a means of evaluating dummy repeatability. The 
repeatability assessment specifies that the dummy's response must fall 
within specified performance limits and that it does not exceed a CV 
value of 10% in repeated identical impact exposures. Reproducibility is 
a statistical assessment of compiled responses of multiple dummies in a 
duplicated impact environment. Multiple dummies produce a wider 
dispersion of response measurement than in testing a single dummy for 
repeatability. Accordingly, a CV of 15% for reproducibility is being 
proposed as a practical limit for maximum allowable variance in 
repeated tests of multiple dummies, as long as any single dummy within 
that set conforms to the 10% repeatability requirement.

C. Component Tests

    The critical body segments were evaluated by conducting 
certification tests on the head, neck, thorax, torso, and knee. These 
tests were conducted in accordance with the procedure specified in the 
most recent version of the DFTG's user manual developed for the HIII-
10C. Components from a dummy manufactured by FTSS and those from a 
dummy manufactured by Denton were tested prior to and after a series of 
sled tests. The CV values used to assess the quality of repeatability 
and reproducibility are provided in Table III.

  Table III.--Dummy Rating Scores for Repeatability and Reproducibility
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Reproducibility
       Repeatability  % CV               % CV               Rating
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-5.............................                0-6  Excellent.
>5-8............................              >6-11  Good.
>8-10...........................             >11-15  Marginal.
>10.............................                >15  Poor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For each of the dummies, the head, neck, knee and thorax all 
responded with a rating of excellent in the repeatability and the 
reproducibility evaluations.
    The repeatability values from the torso evaluation were acceptable 
with CV values below 10 percent, except that data in one channel from 
the reproducibility evaluation narrowly missed an ``acceptable'' value. 
Torso flexion tests were conducted on both dummies before and after the 
sled test series per the procedure defined in CFR Part 572, Subpart O 
(Hybrid III 5th Percentile Female Dummy), except that the resistance 
force was measured at 35 degrees of torso flexion instead of 45 
degrees. The smaller size of the HIII-10C and the pelvis angle required 
for slouching prohibited the test dummy from achieving an angle of 45 
degrees. The reproducibility value for the resistance force at 35 
degrees of torso flexion was in the excellent range (CV=4.5%), and the 
CV for the initial mean angle value of the torso was in the acceptable 
range (CV=14.2%). However, the return angle of the torso after the 
flexion test produced a CV value of 16.7 percent, which is above the 
15% limit for acceptability. Inasmuch as the torso return angle average 
of 5.67 degrees is well below the maximum allowable 8 degree limit, the 
slightly higher repeatability CV value than the maximum allowable is of 
little concern in this case. Evidence of a specific return angle is 
indicative of the torso mid-section having certain elastic, more human-
like properties. A return within the 8 degree limit indicates that the 
forces of restitution are intact. No return, or an indefinite return, 
would indicate a substantial change within the internal mechanisms of 
the mid-torso structure, such as failure of the lumbar spine, abdomen, 
or a substantial shift between interfacing body segments within the 
abdominal cavity. Although the dummies' responses were just outside the 
acceptable range for repeatability, each response demonstrated elastic 
properties and no structural failures.

D. Sled tests

    To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the HIII-10C as 
a complete dummy, the agency conducted two sets of FMVSS No. 213 type 
sled tests with the dummy placed in a booster seat and with test 
environment variables minimized. A more repeatable test environment was 
constructed in the form of a rigid bench seat, as opposed to a 
cushioned seat, to minimize seat cushion related variables and 
facilitate consistent dummy positioning

[[Page 40286]]

throughout the test series. The seat was built to permit vertical 
adjustment of its base to either allow proper belt restraint placement 
on the elevated dummy or to accommodate a booster seat to the same 
sitting height on the lowered base. The seat base was carpeted (\1/4\'' 
thick, 0.5 lb/square foot weight carpet) to prevent excessive sliding 
of the booster seat. Again, repeatability and reproducibility of the 
dummies in systems tests are assessed using the ISO developed CV scale 
discussed above.
    In the first set of sled tests, the two dummies were set-up on the 
existing rigid bench seat specified in FMVSS No. 213. The features of 
the bench seat were not modified as specified by a June 24, 2003 final 
rule amending FMVSS No. 213 (68 FR 37620; Docket No. NHTSA-2003-
15351).\14\ Because of the possibility of the rigid seat causing the 
dummies to absorb more of the impact energy, a softer 20 g, 27 mph 
pulse was applied in the two dummies test series. This pulse represents 
19 percent reduced energy from the FMVSS No. 213 sled pulse. A good 
belt fit on the dummies' shoulders and pelvis was achieved by raising 
the seat to the equivalent height of a booster seat cushion. None of 
the dummy responses from this series of tests resulted in CV values 
that were in the unacceptable range, which demonstrates that the HIII-
10C has good repeatability and reproducibility as a complete system.
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    \14\ The June 24, 2003 final rule increased the test bench's 
seat cushion angle from 8 degrees off horizontal to 15 degrees; 
increased the test bench's seat back angle from 15 degrees off 
vertical to 22 degrees; increased the spacing between the anchors of 
the lap belt from 222 mm to 400 mm in the center seating position 
and from 356 mm to 472 mm in the outboard seating positions; and 
specified a rigid seat back as opposed to a flexible back.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Test data from the repeatability and reproducibility tests in the 
reduced energy environment are shown in Table IV, below. Data for 
repeatability display averages of five responses for each dummy, their 
respective standard deviations, and the corresponding CV values. The 
data for reproducibility combine the measurements of both dummies and 
provide averages, standard deviations, and CV values for each data 
channel. The responses on the whole are reasonably similar between the 
two dummies. Table V displays the distribution of the measured CV 
values of the major body segments from Table IV that fell into each of 
the repeatability and reproducibility rating categories listed in Table 
III. The only channel that failed to meet the ``good'' or ``excellent'' 
categories was the upper neck X force in Dummy 1, which 
received an ``acceptable'' rating.

                    Table IV.--Response Analysis of the HIII-10C in Simulated Booster Height
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Repeatability                         Reproducibility
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Dummy 1  (n=5)   Dummy 2  (n=5)      Both test dummies
              Channel              ----------------------------------------------------          (n=10)
                                                                                       -------------------------
                                        AVG           CV          AVG           CV                        CV
                                                  (percent)                 (percent)       AVG       (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head X (g)........................           39          5.0           37          2.6           38          4.2
Head Z (g)........................           47          7.1           40          4.0           44         10.3
Head Resultant (g)................           51          7.7           43          3.9           47         10.1
HIC 36............................          355          7.1          317          5.2          336          8.5
Upper Neck X Force (N)............          820          9.6          695          2.2          758         11.2
Upper Neck Z Force (N)............         1728          5.0         1525          4.5         1627          8.0
Upper Neck Y Moment (N-m).........           34          4.1           38          3.1           36          7.1
Chest X (g).......................           40          4.7           39          2.4           40          4.1
Chest Z (g).......................            9          6.0           10          8.0           10          6.9
Chest Resultant (g)...............           41          4.4           39          1.6           40          3.7
Chest Clip (g)....................           40          3.2           38          2.2           39          3.5
Chest Deflection (mm).............           31          5.4           26          5.4           28         10.6
Pelvis Resultant (g)..............           39          5.0           39          1.8           39          4.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Table V.--Distribution of the Measured CV Values of the Major Body Segments by the Repeatability and
                                Reproducibility Rating Scales by Frequency Count
                                             [Ref. Table IV, supra]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Repeatability
                                                                -------------------------------- Reproducibility
                             Rating                                Test dummy      Test dummy      both dummies
                                                                   1      2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excellent......................................................               7              11                5
Good...........................................................               5               2                7
Acceptable.....................................................               1               0                1
Unacceptable...................................................               0               0                0
% Acceptable...................................................             100             100              100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The second set of sled tests to evaluate repeatability and 
reproducibility was conducted with three HIII-10C dummies. The third 
dummy was constructed with the upper half manufactured by Denton ATD 
and the lower half manufactured by FTSS (combination dummy). Testing of 
the combination dummy was to determine if the drawing specifications 
would produce interchangeable parts irrespective of the manufacturer, 
and if a combination test dummy would provide the same repeatability, 
reproducibility, and durability as a test dummy manufactured by a 
single company. The three dummies were seated side by side at booster 
seat height

[[Page 40287]]

on the updated FMVSS No. 213 bench seat specified in the June 2003 
final rule. (The bench seat was slightly modified to provide a lap/
shoulder belt for the center seating position.) Testing all three 
dummies side-by-side permitted a comparison of the test dummies' 
kinematics in the same crash environment. As in the first set of tests, 
the seat foam was removed and replaced by carpeting material to 
minimize possible bench seat interaction effects on the dummies' 
responses. The three dummies were set up in identical upright postures 
and restrained by three-point belts representative of vehicle lap and 
shoulder belts. The full FMVSS No. 213 sled pulse (24 g and 30 mph) was 
used in these tests. Four repeat tests with the three dummies yielded a 
total of 12 sets of data. Results are shown in Table VI and summarized 
in Table VII by how well the dummies fit within the repeatability and 
reproducibility rating categories.

                         Table VI.--Summary of Selected Three HIII-10C Dummies Repeatability and Reproducibility Test Responses
                                                             [Full FMVSS No. 213 Sled Pulse]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Dummy  1  (n=4)   Dummy 2  (n=4)   Combination test dummy   All test dummies  (n=12)
                                                 ----------------------------------------------------           (n=4)          -------------------------
                     Channel                                                                         --------------------------
                                                      AVG           CV          AVG           CV                        CV          AVG           CV
                                                                (percent)                 (percent)       AVG       (percent)                 (percent)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head X (g)......................................           34         10.7           37          9.2           29  ...........           33         13.9
Head Z (g)......................................           55          3.6           48          2.0           49          2.0           51          6.8
Head Resultant (g)..............................           60          3.0           51          1.2           53          1.9           55          7.4
HIC 36..........................................          545          4.6          464          3.3          483          5.8          498          8.4
Upper Neck X Force (N)..........................          841          6.5          885          8.3          720          5.6          815         11.0
Upper Neck Z Force (N)..........................         1923          4.0         1713          3.8         1757          1.9         1797          6.1
Upper Neck Y Moment (N-m).......................           41          7.0           38          5.3           39          3.3           39          6.4
Chest X (g).....................................           37          5.1           37          4.5           38          2.9           37          4.0
Chest Z (g).....................................           16          3.0           14          8.0           16         10.2           15          9.5
Chest Resultant (g) 3...........................           38          5.1           39          3.9           40          3.6           39          4.8
Chest Clip (g)..................................           32          7.0           31          6.9           33          6.3           32          6.6
Chest Deflection (mm)...........................           37          4.1           38          3.8           39          4.4           38          4.6
Pelvis Resultant (g)............................           41          4.3           48          3.4           47          4.2           45          7.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


     Table VII.--Distribution of the Measured CV Values of the Major Body Segments by the Repeatability and
                                 Reproducibility Rating Scale by Frequency Count
                                             [Ref. Table VI, supra]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Repeatability                  Reproducibility
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                     Rating                        Test dummy      Test dummy      Combination
                                                   1      2      test dummy        Dummies
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excellent......................................               7               8               8                3
Good...........................................               5               3               3                9
Acceptable.....................................               0               2               2                1
Unacceptable...................................               1               0               0                0
% Acceptable...................................              93             100             100              100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Test dummy 2 and the combination of test dummy responses 
demonstrated 100 percent acceptability for repeatability and 
reproducibility. Test dummy 1 demonstrated approximately 93 
percent acceptability for repeatability and 100 percent acceptability 
for reproducibility. We believe the 93 percent value can be accepted as 
repeatable. Test dummy 1 was prevented from achieving 100 
percent acceptability by a head ``X'' acceleration CV rating of 10.7 
percent, which is only 0.7 percent above the acceptability limit. The 
dummy still demonstrated an acceptable repeatability CV value for the 
HIC 36 measurement.
    Based on the above, the agency tentatively concludes that the HIII-
10C provides sufficient repeatability and reproducibility at both the 
component level and the system level.

V. The Dummy's Response Sensitivity and Structural Durability

    A variety of sled tests were conducted to substantiate the 
functionality of the HIII-10C dummy's sensitivity in differentiating 
the effects of substantially different but repeatable restraint 
configurations in several environments. Durability of the dummy's 
structure was also assessed in each of these test environments. These 
sled tests evaluated the dummy's sensitivity to the following 
variables:
     Booster seat design
     Posture
     Three-point belt application
     Applied pulse
     Vehicle seat
     Airbag interaction.
    As discussed below, based on these tests, we tentatively conclude 
that the HIII-10C is capable of differentiating between restraint 
systems and incremental improvements in restraint configurations. It 
also displayed sufficient durability in all environments.

A. Sensitivity of Responses to Booster Seat Design

    Tests were conducted with both dummies in the FMVSS No. 213 
configuration with two different makes of booster seats, the Graco 
Grand Cargo and the Century Breverra. These booster seats were chosen 
because they appeared similar in design and appeared to result in 
similar dummy postures in the pretest set-up.

[[Page 40288]]

    In sled tests, the dummies in each type of booster seat showed 
similar torso kinematics, except for some outboard rotation of the legs 
in the Century mode. Test results indicate that both HIII-10C dummies 
were capable of similar differentiation between booster seat models 
through response measurements. In the Graco Grand Cargo booster seat, 
both dummies exhibited very similar impact responses. In the Century 
Breverra seat, similarities in impact responses between the dummies 
were somewhat less strong. It appears that relatively good consistency 
of the response by both dummies in the Graco Grand Cargo booster seat 
and somewhat less consistency by the same dummies in the Century 
Breverra seat were due to differences in the containment 
characteristics of the two booster seats during the test rather than 
differences between the dummies themselves.

B. Sensitivity of Response to Dummy's Posture

    As explained previously, the HIII-10C dummy is capable of being 
seated in a ``slouched'' position, similar to adolescent children 
sitting in adult seats. The slouched position permits the lower portion 
of the dummy to be brought forward so that the knees can bend and 
orient the lower legs downwards at the front of a seat. This forward 
positioning of the legs puts the slouched dummy's upper torso in a 
reclined orientation approximately 12 degrees from the normal upright 
torso orientation.\15\ In testing, the slouched dummies ``submarined'' 
under the lap belt, demonstrating that the HIII-10C is suitable for 
detecting and assessing submarining tendencies within belt restraint-
seat systems that are not built to prevent such an event.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Normal upright orientation means the upper torso 
midsagittal backline is essentially parallel to the seat back 
incline plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Sensitivity of Response of the Dummy in Three-Point Belt 
Applications

    This series of tests was to determine if the dummy could 
differentiate between properly and improperly used shoulder belts when 
a booster seat is not utilized, and also to evaluate impact responses 
between dummies in three-point belt systems and booster seats. The 
tests compared the effects of belt placement on the impact kinematics 
and response of the HIII-10C dummy. Each dummy was seated on the FMVSS 
No. 213 type bench seat in two repeated frontal impact tests. To 
represent incorrect three-point belt application (misuse), adult belt 
restraints were applied on the upright-seated HIII-10C torso in the 
normal manner, except that the shoulder belt, instead of being routed 
over the shoulder, was routed under the seated dummy's arm.
    Each dummy placed in the misuse configuration exhibited distinctly 
different kinematics from when it was properly restrained. The upper 
torso, while pitching forward, forced the shoulder belt to slide down 
the torso towards the abdomen to become like a lap belt. At extreme 
flexion, the upper torso jack-knifed over the belt restraint far enough 
to allow the head to impact the knees. However, during the upper torso 
jack-knifing motion, the head movement relative to the upper torso was 
relatively small.
    Comparison of test data indicate that the HIII-10C dummy is 
suitable for detecting and assessing misuse of the shoulder belt on the 
child's upper torso. Misalignment of the shoulder belt produces not 
only a very large chest deflection, but also can damage the chest 
deflection measuring system. However, since compliance test conditions 
do not typically include belt misuse evaluations, mechanical failure of 
the deflection measuring system in this test set-up is of little 
concern. Nonetheless, the deflection measuring system would be able to 
detect whether a shoulder slid off the dummy's shoulder.
    Dummies restrained in booster seats indicate fairly sizable impact 
response reductions over dummies restrained in three-point belt 
systems, except for relatively minor differences in chest deflections. 
Chest deflections of dummies in booster seats were on the average about 
5 percent higher than in three-point belt systems at comparable sled 
impact speeds.

D. Sensitivity of Dummy Response and Durability in NCAP Pulse and 
Different Restraint Systems

    Subsequent to completion of the FMVSS No. 213 type tests, the FTSS 
and Denton dummies were evaluated in a vehicle environment at NCAP 
speed on the HYGE sled. The objectives were: (1) To evaluate the 
dummy's durability under severe loading conditions; (2) to compare the 
dummy's responses in booster seat versus non-booster in normal seating 
configurations, including the slouch posture; and (3) to measure 
differences in kinematic excursions of the head and knees in the 
different test configurations. This sled was set up for this test 
series to represent the vehicle environment of a 2000 Ford Expedition 
XLT. The sled pulse was based on the NCAP 35 mph vehicle to barrier 
crash acceleration profile.
    For the dummies in booster seats and in normal upright and slouched 
set-ups, the belt was positioned correctly by adjusting the D-ring 
position. A D-ring is the anchorage for a shoulder belt and its 
position can be adjusted to enhance the correctness of shoulder belt 
fit. For the slouch tests, the D-ring was kept in the same position as 
for the normal upright posture, resulting in incorrect belt fit on the 
dummy (shoulder belt medial to the clavicle, and lap belt top surface 
superior to the pelvis lip). As expected, the dummies seated in booster 
seats yielded significantly lower response levels than three-point 
belted dummies in upright and in slouched postures.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ While no durability problems were encountered in component 
certification and FMVSS No. 213 type sled tests, one type of a 
problem emerged during the NCAP test series. Some ribs from both 
dummies experienced delamination of the damping material. Upon 
investigation, we preliminarily determined that this problem is most 
likely related to either the manufacturing process or adhesive 
selection, rather than a flaw in design. This was confirmed in 
subsequent testing in which new ribsets of the same design mounted 
in the two dummies survived well over 30 sled tests and numerous 
certification tests without indication of any structural or 
functional failures. Accordingly, the agency believes that the ribs 
pose neither fatigue nor durability issues.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While no durability problems were encountered in component 
certification and FMVSS No. 213 type sled tests, one type of problem 
emerged during the NCAP test series. Some ribs from both dummies 
experienced delamination of the damping material. Upon investigation, 
this was found to be an anomalous initial manufacturing problem, 
because replacement ribsets used in subsequent dummy tests survived 
well over 30 relatively severe sled impact exposures and numerous 
certification tests without indication of any structural or functional 
failures. Accordingly, NHTSA believes that the ribs raise neither 
fatigue nor durability issues.

VI. Dummy Performance in OOP Environment

    The HIII-10C was evaluated for its usefulness and robustness in the 
static out-of-position (OOP) airbag compliance test of FMVSS No. 208, 
Occupant crash protection. Under the requirements of FMVSS No. 208, 
vehicle manufacturers may comply with an OOP air bag requirement which, 
in part, tests the interaction of an air bag and a child occupant under 
two ``worst-case'' scenarios. In those, the air bag is deployed with 
the child's head on the vehicle's instrument panel (head-to-IP), and 
the air bag is deployed with the child's chest on the instrument panel 
(chest-to-IP). In testing the HIII-10C

[[Page 40289]]

under the OOP conditions, three objectives were of primary interest:
     Evaluate the neck's durability;
     Establish the capacity and performance of the head/neck 
and thorax instrumentation;
     Determine ease of dummy positioning for OOP testing.

1. Test Set-Up

    In the head-to-IP tests, the neck angle was set at 16 degrees 
flexion relative to the perpendicular to the neck base mounting plateau 
so that the chin of the dummy was level with the centerline of the 
airbag flap. For the chest-to-IP position, the neck angle was changed 
to 0 degrees so that the head was not touching the windshield. The seat 
back was reclined fully. The doorsill, striker face, and windshield 
were used as measurement references to position the dummy.

2. General Observations

    Video analysis of the dummies' kinematics exhibited minimal torso 
twisting around the superior-inferior axis during the forward and 
backward translation while in contact with the airbag. Chalk transfer 
to the airbag, in addition to video analysis, did not show the airbag 
entering the cavity between the chin and neck.

3. Neck Durability

    The neck structure exhibited no visible damage during the OOP 
tests. Dummy calibration tests following the OOP test series indicated 
that both FTSS test dummy neck and Denton ATD test dummy neck continued 
to pass the calibration response requirement in both flexion and 
extension. Except for minor abrasions and mini-tears to the chin area 
of the head skin due to airbag membrane interaction, no other failures 
were encountered.

4. Response Differences Due to Dummy Makes

    With the exception of HIC values, the average response values for 
each dummy appear to be consistent with each another. The FTSS test 
dummy experienced HIC values of 91 and 169 for the head-to-IP and 
chest-to-IP configurations, respectively. The Denton test dummy 
experienced HIC values of 179 and 589 for the head-to-IP and chest-to-
IP configurations, respectively. However, the small number of tests 
prevents drawing definitive conclusions on differences between the two 
dummies.

5. Dummy Positioning

    The IP positions for the Hybrid III 6-year-old (HIII-6C) found in 
S24.4 of FMVSS No. 208 were used as reference. One modification to the 
procedure was required to better position the HIII-10C. In the chest IP 
position, the lower legs below the femur were removed to allow mid-
chest contact with the IP without wedging the head against the 
windshield.

VI. Proposed Calibration Tests

    The agency proposes the following calibration test specifications 
and procedures for the HIII-10C dummy. Performance certification 
specifications would test response requirements for components of the 
dummy (the head; neck; thorax; and knees), and a semi-static flexion 
test of the upper torso with respect to the lower torso of a fully 
assembled seated dummy.

A. Head Drop Specification

    Since the HIII-10C head is the same as the Hybrid III small female 
head, we are proposing the same head drop specification for the HIII-
10C as that of the 49 CFR Part 572, Subpart O, Hybrid III 5th 
Percentile Female Test Dummy, Alpha Version. Under Subpart O the head 
is dropped from a 376 mm height targeting the forehead to impact at the 
midsagittal plane a flat, rigid surface. When the dummy head is dropped 
in accordance with the above test, the agency proposes the following 
certification specifications:
    1. The peak resultant acceleration must not be less than 250 g and 
not more than 300 g;
    2. The resultant acceleration vs. time history curve shall be 
unimodal; oscillations occurring after the main pulse must be less than 
10 percent of the peak resultant acceleration; and
    3. The lateral acceleration shall not exceed 15 g (zero to peak).

B. Neck Pendulum Test

    The proposed test procedure for the neck pendulum test corresponds 
to the calibration test specified for the Hybrid III series of test 
dummies. Under the proposed procedure the head-neck assembly would be 
mounted on the pendulum described in Figure 22 of 49 CFR part 572 so 
that the leading edge of the lower neck bracket coincides with the 
leading edge of the pendulum. The pendulum would then be released from 
a height to achieve an impact velocity of 6.1  0.12 m/s 
(20.0  0.4 ft/s) for flexion tests and 5.03  
0.12 m/s (16.50  0.4. ft/s) for extension tests. The 
pendulum would then be stopped from the initial velocity with an 
acceleration vs. time pulse that meets the velocity change as specified 
below. When the HIII-10C neck is tested in accordance with the proposed 
test procedure, the following specifications would have to be met:
1. Flexion
    (a) The plane D (i.e., an imaginary plane perpendicular to the 
skull cap/skull interface) shall rotate upon arrest of the pendulum 
motion in the direction of pre-impact flight with respect to the 
pendulum's longitudinal centerline between 74 and 88 degrees.
    (b) During the time interval while rotation is within the specified 
corridor, the peak moment about the occipital condyles must not be less 
than 50 N-m (36.9 ft-lbf) and not more than 62 N-m (45.7 ft-lbf).
    (c) The positive moment shall decay for the first time to 10 N-m 
(7.4 ft-lbf) between 85 ms and 105 ms after time zero.
2. Extension
    (a) The plane D (i.e., an imaginary plane perpendicular to the 
skull cap/skull interface) shall rotate upon arrest of the pendulum 
motion in the direction of pre-impact flight with respect to the 
pendulum's longitudinal centerline between 99 and 114 degrees.
    (b) During the time interval while rotation is within the specified 
corridor, the peak moment about the occipital condyles must not be less 
than -35 N-m (-25.8 ft-lbf) and not more than -47 N-m (-34.7 ft-lbf).
    (c) The positive moment shall decay for the first time to -10 N-m 
(-7.4 ft-lbf) between 100 ms and 120 ms after time zero.

C. Knee impact

    This calibration test would be performed on a knee assembly, which 
consists of the lower upper leg assembly, the knee and the distal 
portion of the femur including the femur load transducer or its 
structural replacement. When impacted by the test pendulum at 2.1 m/s, 
the peak knee response force would be required to be between 2560 N and 
3140 N.

D. Thorax impact

    The thorax impact calibration test would be performed on a fully 
assembled, seated dummy. The dummy set-up and impact procedures would 
be similar to that in 59 CFR Part 572, Subpart O. Under the proposed 
calibration requirement, when the test probe impacts the test dummy at 
the chest midsagittal plane below the number three rib, the following 
specifications must be met:

[[Page 40290]]

    (1) The chest in pendulum impact at 6.0 m/s develops a resistance 
force between 1830 N and 2330 N at peak sternum deflection between 40.5 
mm and 48.5 mm, and
    (2) The force deflection plot is to have an internal hysteresis 
between the loading and unloading portions of the curve between 69 
percent and 85 percent.

E. Torso flexion

    As with the thorax impact calibration test, the torso flexion 
calibration test would be performed on a fully assembled, seated dummy. 
The test procedure would determine the combined stiffness of the molded 
lumbar assembly, abdominal insert, and chest flesh assembly resisting 
articulation between the upper torso assembly and the lower torso 
assembly. The resistance to flexion of the upper torso relative the 
lower torso at 35 deg. of upper torso rotation would be required to be 
between 190 N and 240 N. Upon removal of the force, the torso would be 
required to return to within 8 degrees of it initial position.

VII. Benefits and Costs

    Direct safety benefits to the public by the issuance of this 
regulation are not quantifiable. However, the availability of this 
dummy in a regulated format will have indirect safety benefits since it 
will provide a more suitable, stabilized, and objective test tool to 
the safety community for use in research and development of improved 
after market and/or integrated restraint systems. In addition, 
incorporation of the test dummy will permit CRS manufacturers to begin 
offering new CRS systems commercially with certification that they have 
been proof tested with an appropriately used and certified test dummy.
    The cost of an uninstrumented HIII-10C dummy is approximately 
$32,700. The cost for a minimum set of instruments for compliance type 
testing, which may include 3 accelerometers each for the head, thorax, 
and the pelvis, a chest deflection potentiometer, a force and moment 
transducer for the upper neck and the lumbar spine, and single axis 
force transducer for each femur would add approximately $46,200. A full 
set of instrumentation as shown below would add approximately $71,900 
to the cost of an uninstrumented dummy.

      Table VIII.--Instrumentation Available for the HIII-10C Dummy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Location                  Measurement     Number of channels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head C.G.*......................  Acceleration......  3
Head Tilt Sensor................  Acceleration......  1 (optional)
Upper Neck Load Cell*...........  Forces & Moments..  6
Lower Neck Load Cell............  Forces & Moments..  6 (optional)
Thorax C.G.*....................  Acceleration......  3
Shoulder*.......................  Force.............  2
Sternum*........................  Displacement......  1
Sternum.........................  Displacement (IR-   2 (optional)
                                   TRACC).
Sternum.........................  Acceleration......  2 (optional)
Spine...........................  Acceleration......  2 (optional)
Lumbar Spine*...................  Forces and Moments  3
Pelvis C.G.*....................  Acceleration......  3
A-P Iliac Spine*................  Forces............  4
Femur*..........................  Force.............  1 each rt<
                                                       (optional)
Femur...........................  Forces and Moments  6 each rt<
                                                       (optional)
Mid-shaft Tibia.................  Force.............  1 each rt<
                                                       (optional)
Mid-shaft Tibia.................  Forces and Moments  6 each rt<
                                                       (optional)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Instruments intended to be used in NHTSA FMVSS No. 213 type testing.

IX. Public Participation

How Do I Prepare and Submit Comments?

    Your comments must be written and in English. To ensure that your 
comments are correctly filed in the Docket, please include the docket 
number of this document in your comments.
    Your comments must not be more than 15 pages long. (49 CFR 553.21). 
NHTSA established this limit to encourage you to write your primary 
comments in a concise fashion. However, you may attach necessary 
additional documents to your comments. There is no limit on the length 
of the attachments.
    Please submit two copies of your comments, including the 
attachments, to Docket Management at the address given above under 
ADDRESSES.
    You may also submit your comments to the docket electronically by 
logging onto the Dockets Management System Web site at http://
http://dms.dot.gov">dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help & Information'' or ``Help/Info'' to obtain 
instructions for filing the document electronically.

How Can I Be Sure That My Comments Were Received?

    If you wish Docket Management to notify you upon its receipt of 
your comments, enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard in the 
envelope containing your comments. Upon receiving your comments, Docket 
Management will return the postcard by mail.

How Do I Submit Confidential Business Information?

    If you wish to submit any information under a claim of 
confidentiality, you should submit three copies of your complete 
submission, including the information you claim to be confidential 
business information, to the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the address given 
above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. In addition, you should 
submit two copies, from which you have deleted the claimed confidential 
business information, to Docket Management at the address given above 
under ADDRESSES. When you send a comment containing information claimed 
to be confidential business information, you should include a cover 
letter setting forth the information specified in our confidential 
business information regulation. (49 CFR Part 512.)

Will the Agency Consider Late Comments?

    NHTSA will consider all comments that Docket Management receives 
before the close of business on the comment

[[Page 40291]]

closing date indicated above under DATES. To the extent possible, the 
agency will also consider comments that Docket Management receives 
after that date. If Docket Management receives a comment too late for 
the agency to consider it in developing a final rule (assuming that one 
is issued), the agency will consider that comment as an informal 
suggestion for future rulemaking action.

How Can I Read the Comments Submitted By Other People?

    You may read the comments received by Docket Management at the 
address given above under ADDRESSES. The hours of the Docket are 
indicated above in the same location.
    You may also see the comments on the Internet. To read the comments 
on the Internet, take the following steps:
    1. Go to the Docket Management System (DMS) Web page of the 
Department of Transportation (http://dms.dot.gov/).
    2. On that page, click on ``search.''
    3. On the next page (http://dms.dot.gov/search/), type in the four-
digit docket number shown at the beginning of this document. Example: 
If the docket number were ``NHTSA-1998-1234,'' you would type ``1234.'' 
After typing the docket number, click on ``search.''
    4. On the next page, which contains docket summary information for 
the docket you selected, click on the desired comments. You may 
download the comments. Although the comments are imaged documents, 
instead of word processing documents, the ``pdf'' versions of the 
documents are word searchable.
    Please note that even after the comment closing date, NHTSA will 
continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it becomes 
available. Further, some people may submit late comments. Accordingly, 
the agency recommends that you periodically check the Docket for new 
material.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

X. Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 FR 
51735, October 4, 1993), provides for making determinations whether a 
regulatory action is ``significant'' and therefore subject to Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) review and to the requirements of the 
Executive Order. This rulemaking action was not considered a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. This 
rulemaking action was also determined not to be significant under the 
Department of Transportation's (DOT's) regulatory policies and 
procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). The cost of an 
uninstrumented HIII-10C is approximately $32,700. Instrumentation would 
add approximately $46,200 for minimum requirements and approximately 
$71,900 for maximum instrumentation to the cost of the dummy.
    This document proposes to amend 49 CFR Part 572 by adding design 
and performance specifications for a test dummy representative of a 
ten-year-old child that the agency may use in research and in 
compliance tests of the Federal child restraint system safety 
standards. If this proposed Part 572 rule becomes final, it would not 
impose any requirements on anyone. Businesses would be affected only if 
they choose to manufacture or test with the dummy. Because the economic 
impacts of this proposal are minimal, no further regulatory evaluation 
is necessary.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency is required to publish a proposed 
or final rule, it must prepare and make available for public comment a 
regulatory flexibility analysis that describes the effect of the rule 
on small entities (i.e., small businesses, small organizations, and 
small governmental jurisdictions), unless the head of the agency 
certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. The Small Business 
Administration's regulations at 13 CFR Part 121 define a small 
business, in part, as a business entity ``which operates primarily 
within the United States.'' (13 CFR 121.105(a)).
    We have considered the effects of this rulemaking under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby certify that the proposed 
rulemaking action would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. This action would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
because the addition of the test dummy to Part 572 would not impose any 
requirements on anyone. NHTSA would not require anyone to manufacture 
the dummy or to test motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment with it.

National Environmental Policy Act

    NHTSA has analyzed this proposal for the purposes of the National 
Environmental Policy Act and determined that it will not have any 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment.

Executive Order 13045

    Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies to any 
rule that: (1) is determined to be ``economically significant'' as 
defined under E.O. 12866, and (2) concerns an environmental, health, or 
safety risk that NHTSA has reason to believe may have a 
disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action meets 
both criteria, we must evaluate the environmental health or safety 
effects of the planned rule on children, and explain why the planned 
regulation is preferable to other potentially effective and reasonably 
feasible alternatives considered by us.
    This proposed rule is not subject to the Executive Order because it 
is not economically significant as defined in E.O. 12866.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    Executive Order 13132 requires agencies to develop an accountable 
process to ensure ``meaningful and timely input by State and local 
officials in the development of regulatory policies that have 
federalism implications.'' ``Policies that have federalism 
implications'' is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations 
that have ``substantial direct effects on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government.''
    NHTSA has analyzed this proposed amendment in accordance with the 
principles and criteria set forth in Executive Order 13132. The agency 
has determined that this proposal does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant consultation and the preparation of a 
Federalism Assessment.

Civil Justice Reform

    This proposed rule would not have any retroactive effect. Under 49 
U.S.C.

[[Page 40292]]

30103, whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard is in effect, a 
State may not adopt or maintain a safety standard applicable to the 
same aspect of performance which is not identical to the Federal 
standard, except to the extent that the state requirement imposes a 
higher level of performance and applies only to vehicles procured for 
the State's use. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a procedure for judicial 
review of final rules establishing, amending, or revoking Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards. That section does not require submission of a 
petition for reconsideration or other administrative proceedings before 
parties may file suit in court.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information by a Federal agency unless 
the collection displays a valid control number from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). This proposed rule would not have any 
requirements that are considered to be information collection 
requirements as defined by the OMB in 5 CFR Part 1320.

National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272) 
directs NHTSA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory 
activities unless doing so would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling 
procedures, and business practices) that are developed or adopted by 
voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTAA directs NHTSA to 
provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the agency decides not 
to use available and applicable voluntary consensus standards. The 
proposed test dummy and certification requirements have been based on 
the work of the SAE DFTG. Differences between the DFTG recommendations 
and this proposal are minor and are based on additional research 
performed by the agency.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), 
Public Law 104-4, requires Federal agencies to prepare a written 
assessment of the costs, benefits, and other effects of proposed or 
final rules that include a Federal mandate likely to result in the 
expenditure by State, local, or tribal governments, in the aggregate, 
or by the private sector, of more than $100 million annually (adjusted 
for inflation with base year of 1995). Before promulgating an NHTSA 
rule for which a written statement is needed, section 205 of the UMRA 
generally requires the agency to identify and consider a reasonable 
number of regulatory alternatives and adopt the least costly, most 
cost-effective, or least burdensome alternative that achieves the 
objectives of the rule.
    This proposed rule would not impose any unfunded mandates under the 
UMRA. This proposed rule would not meet the definition of a Federal 
mandate because it would not impose requirements on anyone. It would 
amend 49 CFR Part 572 by adding design and performance specifications 
for a 10-year-old test dummy that the agency may use in the Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards. If this proposed rule becomes final, it 
would affect only those businesses that choose to manufacture or test 
with the dummy. It would not result in costs of $100 million or more to 
either State, local, or tribal governments, in the aggregate, or to the 
private sector.

Plain Language

    Executive Order 12866 requires each agency to write all rules in 
plain language. Application of the principles of plain language 
includes consideration of the following questions:

--Has the agency organized the material to suit the public's needs?
--Are the requirements in the rule clearly stated?
--Does the rule contain technical language or jargon that is not clear?
--Would a different format (grouping and order of sections, use of 
headings, paragraphing) make the rule easier to understand?
--Would more (but shorter) sections be better?
--Could the agency improve clarity by adding tables, lists, or 
diagrams?
--What else could the agency do to make this rulemaking easier to 
understand?
    If you have any responses to these questions, please include them 
in your comments on this NPRM.

Regulation Identifier Number

    The Department of Transportation assigns a regulation identifier 
number (RIN) to each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of 
Federal Regulations. The Regulatory Information Service Center 
publishes the Unified Agenda in April and October of each year. You may 
use the RIN contained in the heading at the beginning of this document 
to find this action in the Unified Agenda.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 572

    Motor vehicle safety, Incorporation by reference.

    In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA is proposing to amend 49 
CFR Part 572 as follows:

PART 572--ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEST DUMMIES

    1. The authority citation for Part 572 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117 and 30166; 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    2. 49 CFR part 572 would be amended by adding a new subpart T to 
read as follows:
Subpart T--Hybrid III 10-Year-Old Child Test Dummy (HIII-10C)
Sec.
572.170 Incorporation by reference.
572.171 General description.
572.172 Head assembly and test procedure.
572.173 Neck assembly and test procedure.
572.174 Thorax assembly and test procedure.
572.175 Upper and lower torso assemblies and torso flexion test 
procedure.
572.176 Knees and knee impact test procedure.
572.177 Test conditions and instrumentation.
Appendix--Figures to Subpart T of Part 572


Sec.  572.170  Incorporation by reference.

    (a) The following materials are hereby incorporated into this 
Subpart by reference:
    (1) A drawings and inspection package entitled ``Drawings and 
Specifications for the ``Hybrid III 10-year-old Child Test Dummy (HIII-
10C), April 2005, consisting of:
    (i) Drawing No. 420-0000, Complete Assembly HIII 10-year-old, 
incorporated by reference in Sec.  572.171 and Sec.  572.177.
    (ii) Drawing No. 420-100, Head Assembly, incorporated by reference 
in Sec.  572.171, Sec.  572.172, Sec.  572.173, and Sec.  572.177.
    (iii) Drawing No. 420-2000, Neck Assembly, incorporated by 
reference in Sec.  572.171, Sec.  572.173, and Sec.  572.177.
    (iv) Drawing No. 420-3000, Upper Torso Assembly, incorporated by 
reference in Sec.  572.171, Sec.  572.174, Sec.  572.175, and Sec.  
572.177.
    (v) Drawing No. 420-4000, Lower Torso Assembly, incorporated by 
reference in Sec.  572.171, Sec.  572.175, and Sec.  572.177.
    (vi) Drawing No. 420-5000-1, Complete Leg Assembly--left, 
incorporated by reference in Sec.  572.171, Sec.  572.176, and Sec.  
572.177.

[[Page 40293]]

    (vii) Drawing No. 420-5000-2, Complete Leg Assembly--right, 
incorporated by reference in Sec.  572.171, Sec.  572.176, and Sec.  
572.177.
    (viii) Drawing No. 420-7000-1, Complete Arm Assembly--left, and
    (ix) Drawing No. 420-7000-2, Complete Arm Assembly--right.
    (2) A procedures manual entitled ``Procedures for Assembly, 
Disassembly and Inspection (PADI) of the Hybrid III 10-year-old Child 
Test Dummy (HIII-10C), April 2005'';
    (3) SAE Recommended Practice J211, Rev. Mar 95 ``Instrumentation 
for Impact Tests ``Part 1--Electronic Instrumentation'';
    (4) SAE J1733 of 1994-12 ``Sign Convention for Vehicle Crash 
Testing''.
    (b) The Director of the Federal Register approved the materials 
incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51. Copies of the materials may be inspected at NHTSA's Technical 
Reference Library, 400 Seventh Street S.W., room 5109, Washington, DC, 
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (c) The incorporated materials are available as follows:
    (1) The Drawings and Specifications for the Hybrid III 10-year-old 
Child Test Dummy (HIII-10C), April 2005, referred to in paragraph 
(a)(1) of this section and the Procedures for Assembly, Disassembly and 
Inspection (PADI) of the Hybrid III 10-year-old Child Test Dummy (HIII-
10C), April 2005, referred to in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, are 
available through the DOT Docket Management System Docket No. 7659, 
http://dms.dot.gov">dms.dot.gov. They are also available from Leet-Melbrook, Division of 
New RT, 1881 Woodfield Rd., Gaithersburg, Md. 20879, (301) 670-0090.
    (2) The SAE materials referred to in paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) 
of this section are available from the Society of Automotive Engineers, 
Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, Pa. 15096.


Sec.  572.171  General description.

    (a) Hybrid III 10-year-old Child Crash Test Dummy (HIII-10C) is 
defined by drawings and specifications containing the following 
materials:
    (1) Technical drawings and specifications package P/N 420-0000, the 
titles of which are listed in Table A;
    (2) Procedures for Assembly, Disassembly and Inspection (PADI) of 
the Hybrid III 10-year-old Child Test Dummy (HIII-10C), (April 2005).

                                 Table A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Drawing
                   Component assembly                         number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Assembly...........................................         420-100
Neck Assembly...........................................        420-2000
Upper Torso Assembly....................................        420-3000
Lower Torso Assembly....................................        420-4000
Complete Leg Assembly--left.............................      420-5000-1
Complete Leg Assembly--right............................      420-5000-2
Complete Arm Assembly--left.............................      420-7000-1
Complete Arm Assembly--right............................      420-7000-2
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Adjacent segments are joined in a manner such that, except for 
contacts existing under static conditions, there is no contact between 
metallic elements throughout the range of motion or under simulated 
crash impact conditions.
    (c) The structural properties of the dummy are such that the dummy 
conforms to this Subpart in every respect before use in any test 
similar to those specified in Standard 213, Child Restraint Systems, 
and Standard 208, Occupant Crash Protection.


Sec.  572.172  Head assembly and test procedure.

    (a) The head assembly for this test consists of the complete head 
(drawing 420-100), a six-axis neck transducer (drawing SA572-S11) or 
its structural replacement (drawing 78051-383X), and 3 accelerometers 
(drawing SA572-S4).
    (b) When the head assembly is dropped from a height of 376.0  1.0 mm (14.8  0.04 in) in accordance with paragraph 
(c) of this section, the peak resultant acceleration at the location of 
the accelerometers at the head CG may not be less than 250 G or more 
than 300 G. The resultant acceleration vs. time history curve shall be 
unimodal; oscillations occurring after the main pulse must be less than 
10 percent of the peak resultant acceleration. The lateral acceleration 
shall not exceed 15 G (zero to peak).
    (c) Head test procedure. The test procedure for the head is as 
follows:
    (1) Soak the head assembly in a controlled environment at any 
temperature between 18.9 and 25.6 [deg]C (66 and 78 [deg]F) and a 
relative humidity from 10 to 70 percent for at least four hours prior 
to a test.
    (2) Prior to the test, clean the impact surface of the skin and the 
impact plate surface with isopropyl alcohol, trichloroethane, or an 
equivalent. The skin of the head must be clean and dry for testing.
    (3) Suspend and orient the head assembly as shown in Figure T1. The 
lowest point on the forehead must be 376.0  1.0 mm (14.8 
 0.04 in) from the impact surface. The 1.57 mm (0.062 in) 
diameter holes located on either side of the dummy's head shall be used 
to ensure that the head is level with respect to the impact surface.
    (4) Drop the head assembly from the specified height by means that 
ensure a smooth, instant release onto a rigidly supported flat 
horizontal steel plate which is 50.8 mm (2 in) thick and 610 mm (24 in) 
square. The impact surface shall be clean, dry and have a micro finish 
of not less than 203.2 x 10-\6\ mm (8 micro inches) (RMS) 
and not more than 2032.0x10-\6\ mm (80 micro inches) (RMS).
    (5) Allow at least 2 hours between successive tests on the same 
head.


Sec.  572.173  Neck assembly and test procedure.

    (a) The neck assembly for the purposes of this test consists of the 
assembly of components shown in drawing 420-2000.
    (b) When the head-neck assembly consisting of the head (drawing 
420-100), neck (drawing 420-2000), six-channel neck transducer (SA572-
S11), lower neck bracket assembly (420-2070), and either three uniaxial 
accelerometers (drawing SA572-S4) or their mass equivalent installed in 
the head assembly as specified in drawing 420-100, is tested according 
to the test procedure in paragraph (c) of this section, it shall have 
the following characteristics:
    (1) Flexion. (i) Plane D, referenced in Figure T2, shall rotate in 
the direction of preimpact flight with respect to the pendulum's 
longitudinal centerline between 74 degrees and 88 degrees. During the 
time interval while the rotation is within the specified corridor, the 
peak moment, measured by the neck transducer (drawing SA572-S11), about 
the occipital condyles may not be less than 50 N-m (36.9 ft-lbf) and 
not more than 62 N-m (45.7 ft-lbf). The positive moment shall decay for 
the first time to 10 N-m (7.4 ft-lbf) between 85 ms and 105 ms after 
time zero.
    (ii) The moment shall be calculated by the following formula: 
Moment (N-m) = My - (0.01778m) x (Fx).
    (iii) My is the moment about the y-axis, Fx 
is the shear force measured by the neck transducer (drawing SA572-S11), 
and 0.01778m is the distance from the shear force to the occipital 
condyle.
    (2) Extension. (i) Plane D, referenced in Figure T3, shall rotate 
in the direction of preimpact flight with respect to the pendulum's 
longitudinal centerline between 99 degrees and 114 degrees. During the 
time interval while the rotation is within the specified

[[Page 40294]]

corridor, the peak moment, measured by the neck transducer (drawing 
SA572-S11), about the occipital condyles may not be more than -35 N-m 
(-25.8 ft-lbf) and not less than -47 N-m (-34.7 ft-lbf). The positive 
moment shall decay for the first time to -10 N-m (-7.4 ft-lbf) between 
100 ms and 120 ms after time zero.
    (ii) The moment shall be calculated by the following formula: 
Moment (N-m) = My - (0.01778m) x (Fx).
    (iii) My is the moment about the y-axis, Fx 
is the shear force measured by the neck transducer (drawing SA572-S11), 
and 0.01778m is the distance from the shear force to the occipital 
condyle.
    (3) Time zero is defined as the time of initial contact between the 
pendulum striker plate and the honeycomb material. All data channels 
shall be at the zero level at this time.
    (c) Test Procedure. The test procedure for the neck assembly is as 
follows:
    (1) Soak the neck assembly in a controlled environment at any 
temperature between 20.6 and 22.2 [deg]C (69 and 72 [deg]F) and a 
relative humidity between 10 and 70 percent for at least four hours 
prior to a test.
    (2) Torque the hex nut (drawing 9000130) on the neck cable (drawing 
420-2060) to 0.9  0.2 N-m (8  2 in-lbf) before 
each test on the same neck.
    (3) Mount the head-neck assembly, defined in subsection (b) of this 
section, on the pendulum described in Figure 22 of 49 CFR 572 so that 
the leading edge of the lower neck bracket coincides with the leading 
edge of the pendulum as shown in Figure T2 for flexion tests and Figure 
T3 for extension tests.
    (4)(i) Release the pendulum and allow it to fall freely from a 
height to achieve an impact velocity of 6.1  0.12 m/s (20.0 
 0.4 ft/s) for flexion tests and 5.03  0.12 m/s 
(16.50  0.40 ft/s) for extension tests, measured by an 
accelerometer mounted on the pendulum as shown in Figure T2 at the 
instant of contact with the honeycomb.
    (ii) Stop the pendulum from the initial velocity with an 
acceleration vs. time pulse that meets the velocity change as specified 
below. Integrate the pendulum acceleration data channel to obtain the 
velocity vs. time curve:

                                            Table B.--Pendulum Pulse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Flexion                        Extension
                   Time  (ms)                    ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        m/s            ft/s             m/s            ft/s
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10..............................................       1.64-2.04       5.38-6.69       1.59-1.89       4.89-6.20
20..............................................       3.04-4.04      9.97-13.25       2.88-3.68      9.45-12.07
30..............................................       4.45-5.65     14.60-18.53       4.20-5.20     13.78-17.06
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec.  572.174  Thorax assembly and test procedure.

    (a) The thorax consists of the part of the torso assembly 
designated as the upper torso (drawing 420-3000).
    (b) When the anterior surface of the thorax of a completely 
assembled dummy (drawing 420-0000) is impacted by a test probe 
conforming to section 572.177 at 6.00  0.12 m/s (22.0 
 0.4 ft/s) according to the test procedure in paragraph (c) 
of this section:
    (1) Maximum sternum displacement (compression) relative to the 
spine, measured with chest deflection transducer (drawing SA572-T4), 
must be not less than 40.5 mm (1.59 in) and not more than 48.5 mm (1.91 
in). Within this specified compression corridor, the peak force, 
measured by the impact probe as defined in section 572.177 and 
calculated in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this section, shall 
not be less than 1830 N (411 lbf) and not more than 2330 N (524 lbf). 
The peak force after 20 mm (0.79 in) of sternum displacement but before 
reaching the minimum required 40.5 mm (1.59 in) sternum displacement 
limit shall not exceed 2330 N (524 lbf).
    (2) The internal hysteresis of the ribcage in each impact as 
determined by the plot of force vs. deflection in paragraph (a)(1) of 
this section shall be not less than 69 percent but not more than 85 
percent. The hysteresis shall be calculated by determining the ratio of 
the area between the loading (from time zero to maximum deflection) and 
unloading portions (from maximum deflection to zero force) of the force 
deflection curve to the area under the loading portion of the curve.
    (3) The force shall be calculated by the product of the impactor 
mass and its measured deceleration.
    (b) Test Procedure. The test procedure for the thorax assembly is 
as follows:
    (1) The dummy is clothed in a form fitting cotton stretch above-
the-elbow sleeved shirt and above-the-knees pants. The weight of the 
shirt and pants shall not exceed 0.14 kg (0.30 lb) each.
    (2) Torque the lumbar cable (drawing 420-4130) to 0.9  
0.2 N-m (8  2 in-lbf) and set the lumbar adjustment angle 
to 12 degrees. Set the neck angle to 16 degrees.
    (3) Soak the dummy in a controlled environment at any temperature 
between 20.6 and 22.2 [deg]C (69 and 72 [deg]F) and a relative humidity 
between 10 and 70 percent for at least four hours prior to a test.
    (4) Seat and orient the dummy on a seating surface without back 
support as shown in Figure T4, with the limbs extended horizontally and 
forward, parallel to the midsagittal plane, the midsagittal plane 
vertical within  1 degree and the ribs level in the 
anterior-posterior and lateral directions within  0.5 
degrees.
    (5) Establish the impact point at the chest midsagittal plane so 
that the impact point of the longitudinal centerline of the probe 
coincides with the midsagittal plane of the dummy within  
2.5 mm (0.1 in) and is 12.7  1.1 mm (0.5  0.04 
in) below the horizontal-peripheral centerline of the No. 3 rib and is 
within 0.5 degrees of a horizontal line in the dummy's midsagittal 
plane.
    (6) Impact the thorax with the test probe so that at the moment of 
contact the probe's longitudinal centerline falls within 2 degrees of a 
horizontal line in the dummy's midsagittal plane.
    (7) Guide the test probe during impact so that there is no 
significant lateral, vertical, or rotational movement.
    (8) No suspension hardware, suspension cables, or any other 
attachments to the probe, including the velocity vane, shall make 
contact with the dummy during the test.


Sec.  572.175  Upper and lower torso assemblies and torso flexion test 
procedure.

    (a) The test objective is to determine the stiffness of the molded 
lumbar assembly (drawing 420-4100), abdominal insert (drawing 420-
4300), and chest flesh assembly (drawing 420-3560) on resistance to 
articulation between the upper torso assembly (drawing 420-3000) and 
lower torso assembly (drawing 420-4000).
    (b) When the upper torso assembly of a seated dummy is subjected to 
a force continuously applied at the head to neck pivot pin level 
through a rigidly attached adaptor bracket as shown in

[[Page 40295]]

Figure T5 according to the test procedure set out in paragraph (c) of 
this section:
    (1) The lumbar spine-abdomen-chest flesh assembly shall flex by an 
amount that permits the upper torso assembly to translate in angular 
motion relative to the vertical transverse plane 35  0.5 
degrees at which time the force applied must be not less than 190 N 
(42.7 lbf) and not more than 240 N (54.0 lbf).
    (2) Upon removal of the force, the torso assembly must return to 
within 8 degrees of its initial position.
    (c) Test Procedure. The test procedure for the upper/lower torso 
assembly is as follows:
    (1) Torque the lumbar cable (drawing 420-4130) to 0.9  
0.2 N-m (8  2 in-lbf) and set the lumbar adjustment angle 
to 12 degrees. Set the neck angle to 16 degrees.
    (2) Soak the dummy in a controlled environment at any temperature 
between 20.6 and 22.2 [deg]C (69 and 72 [deg]F) and a relative humidity 
between 10 and 70 percent for at least four hours prior to a test.
    (3) Assemble the complete dummy (with or without the legs below the 
femurs) and attach to the fixture in a seated posture as shown in 
Figure T5.
    (4) Secure the pelvis to the fixture at the pelvis instrument 
cavity rear face by threading four \1/4\ inch cap screws into the 
available threaded attachment holes. Tighten the mountings so that the 
test material is rigidly affixed to the test fixture and the pelvic-
lumbar joining surface is 18 degrees from horizontal and the legs are 
parallel with the test fixture.
    (5) Attach the loading adaptor bracket to the spine of the dummy as 
shown in Figure T5.
    (6) Inspect and adjust, if necessary, the seating of the abdominal 
insert within the pelvis cavity and with respect to the chest flesh, 
assuring that the chest flesh provides uniform fit and overlap with 
respect to the outside surface of the pelvis flesh.
    (7) Flex the dummy's upper torso three times between the vertical 
and until the torso reference frame, as shown in Figure T5, reaches 30 
degrees from the vertical transverse plane. Bring the torso to vertical 
orientation and wait for 30 minutes before conducting the test. During 
the 30-minute waiting period, the dummy's upper torso shall be 
externally supported at or near its vertical orientation to prevent it 
from drooping.
    (8) Remove all external support and wait two minutes. Measure the 
initial orientation angle of the torso reference plane of the seated, 
unsupported dummy as shown in Figure T5. The initial orientation angle 
may not exceed 20 degrees.
    (9) Attach the pull cable and the load cell as shown in Figure T5.
    (10) Apply a tension force in the midsagittal plane to the pull 
cable as shown in Figure T5 at any upper torso deflection rate between 
0.5 and 1.5 degrees per second, until the angle reference plane is at 
35  0.5 degrees of flexion relative to the vertical 
transverse plane.
    (11) Continue to apply a force sufficient to maintain 35  0.5 degrees of flexion for 10 seconds, and record the highest 
applied force during the 10-second period.
    (12) Release all force at the attachment bracket as rapidly as 
possible, and measure the return angle with respect to the initial 
angle reference plane as defined in paragraph (c)(7) of this section 
three minutes after the release.


Sec.  572.176  Knees and knee impact test procedure.

    (a) The knee assembly for the purpose of this test is the part of 
the leg assembly shown in drawing 420-5000.
    (b) When the knee assembly, consisting of lower upper leg assembly 
(420-5200), femur load transducer (SA572-S10) or its structural 
replacement (127-4007), lower leg assembly (420-5300), ankle assembly 
(420-5400), and foot molded assembly (420-5500) is tested according to 
the test procedure in paragraph (c) of this section:
    (1) The peak resistance force as measured with the test probe-
mounted accelerometer must not be less than 2560 N (576 lbf) and not 
more than 3140 N (706 lbf).
    (2) The force shall be calculated by the product of the impactor 
mass and its deceleration.
    (c) Test Procedure. The test procedure for the knee assembly is as 
follows:
    (1) Soak the knee assembly in a controlled environment at any 
temperature between 20.6 and 22.2 [deg]C (69 and 72 [deg]F) and a 
relative humidity between 10 and 70 percent for at least four hours 
prior to a test.
    (2) Mount the test material and secure it to a rigid test fixture 
as shown in Figure T6. No part of the foot or tibia may contact any 
exterior surface.
    (3) Align the test probe so that throughout its stroke and at 
contact with the knee it is within 2 degrees of horizontal and 
collinear with the longitudinal centerline of the femur.
    (4) Guide the pendulum so that there is no significant lateral, 
vertical, or rotational movement at the time of initial contact between 
the impactor and the knee.
    (5) The test probe velocity at the time of contact shall be 2.1 
 0.03 m/s (6.9  0.1 ft/s).
    (6) No suspension hardware, suspension cables, or any other 
attachments to the probe, including the velocity vane, shall make 
contact with the dummy during the test.


Sec.  572.177  Test conditions and instrumentation.

    (a) The test probe for thoracic impacts shall be of rigid metallic 
construction, concentric in shape, and symmetric about its longitudinal 
axis. It shall have a mass of 6.89  0.012 kg (15.2  0.05 lbs) and a minimum mass moment of inertia of 2040 kg-
cm2 (1.69 lbf-in-sec\2\) in yaw and pitch about the CG. One-
third (\1/3\) of the weight of the suspension cables and their 
attachments to the impact probe must be included in the calculation of 
mass, and such components may not exceed five percent of the total 
weight of the test probe. The impacting end of the probe, perpendicular 
to and concentric with the longitudinal axis, must be at least 25.4 mm 
(1.0 in) long, and have a flat, continuous, and non-deformable 121 
 0.25 mm (4.76  0.01 in) diameter face with a 
maximum edge radius of 12.7 mm (0.5 in). The probe's end opposite to 
the impact face must have provisions for mounting of an accelerometer 
with its sensitive axis collinear with the longitudinal axis of the 
probe. No concentric portions of the impact probe may exceed the 
diameter of the impact face. The impact probe shall have a free air 
resonant frequency of not less than 1000 Hz, which may be determined 
using the procedure listed in Docket No. NHTSA-7659-6.
    (b) The test probe for knee impacts shall be of rigid metallic 
construction, concentric in shape, and symmetric about its longitudinal 
axis. It shall have a mass of 1.91  0.01 kg (4.21  0.02 lbs) and a minimum mass moment of inertia of 140 kg-cm\2\ 
(0.12 lbf-in-sec\2\) in yaw and pitch about the CG. One third (\1/3\) 
of the weight of the suspension cables and their attachments to the 
impact probe may be included in the calculation of mass, and such 
components may not exceed five percent of the total weight of the test 
probe. The impacting end of the probe, perpendicular to and concentric 
with the longitudinal axis, must be at least 12.5 mm (0.5 in) long, and 
have a flat, continuous, and non-deformable 76.2  0.2 mm 
(3.00  0.01 in) diameter face with a maximum edge radius of 
12.7 mm (0.5 in). The probe's end opposite to the impact face must have 
provisions for mounting an accelerometer with its sensitive axis 
collinear with the

[[Page 40296]]

longitudinal axis of the probe. No concentric portions of the impact 
probe may exceed the diameter of the impact face. The impact probe must 
have a free air resonant frequency of not less than 1000 Hz, which may 
be determined using the procedure listed in Docket No. NHTSA-7659-6.
    (c) Head accelerometers shall have dimensions, response 
characteristics, and sensitive mass locations specified in drawing 
SA572-S4 and be mounted in the head as shown in drawing 420-0000, sheet 
2 of 6.
    (d) The upper neck force/moment transducer shall have the 
dimensions, response characteristics, and sensitive axis locations 
specified in drawing SA572-S11 and be mounted in the head-neck assembly 
as shown in drawing 420-0000, sheet 2 of 6.
    (e) The thorax accelerometers shall have the dimensions, response 
characteristics, and sensitive mass locations specified in drawing 
SA572-S4 and be mounted in the torso assembly in a triaxial 
configuration within the spine box instrumentation cavity.
    (f) The lumbar spine force-moment transducer shall have the 
dimensions, response characteristics, and sensitive axis locations 
specified in drawing SA572-S12 and be mounted in the lower torso 
assembly as shown in drawing 420-4000.
    (g) The iliac spine force transducers shall have the dimensions and 
response characteristics specified in drawing SA572-S13 L&R and be 
mounted in the lower torso assembly as shown in drawing 420-4000.
    (h) The pelvis accelerometers shall have the dimensions, response 
characteristics, and sensitive mass locations specified in drawing 
SA572-S4 and be mounted in the torso assembly in triaxial configuration 
in the pelvis bone as shown in drawing 420-0000, sheet 2 of 6.
    (i) The single axis femur force transducer (SA572-S10) shall have 
the dimensions, response characteristics, and sensitive axis locations 
specified in the appropriate drawing and be mounted in the upper leg 
assembly, replacing the femur load cell simulator (drawing 127-4007) s 
shown in drawing 420-5100.
    (j) The chest deflection transducer shall have the dimensions and 
response characteristics specified in drawing SA572-S50 and be mounted 
to the upper torso assembly as shown in drawing 420-3000, sheet 2 of 6.
    (k) The following instrumentation is available for installation in 
the dummy for research purposes but is not to be used for calibration 
and/or compliance certification:
    (1) The thorax accelerometers have the dimensions, response 
characteristics, and sensitive mass locations specified in drawing 
SA572-S4 and be mounted in the torso assembly in uniaxial fore-and-aft 
oriented configuration arranged as corresponding pairs in two locations 
each on the sternum and at the spine box of the upper torso assembly as 
shown in drawing 420-0000, sheet 2 of 6.
    (2) The optional IR-Tracc chest deflection system transducer has 
the dimensions and response characteristics specified in drawing SA572-
S43 and is mounted to the spine box assembly as shown in drawing 420-
8000.
    (3) The lower neck force/moment transducer has the dimensions, 
response characteristics, and sensitive axis locations specified in 
drawing SA572-S40 and is mounted to the neck assembly by replacing the 
lower neck mounting bracket 420-2070 as shown in drawing 420-2000.
    (4) The tilt sensor has the dimensions and response characteristics 
specified in drawing SA572-S42 and is mounted to the head and pelvis 
accelerometer assemblies as shown in drawing 420-0000, sheet 2 of 6.
    (5) The clavicle force/moment transducer shall have the dimensions, 
response characteristics, and sensitive axis locations specified in 
drawing SA572-S41 and is mounted in the shoulder assembly as shown in 
drawing 420-3800.
    (l) The outputs of acceleration and force-sensing devices installed 
in the dummy and in the test apparatus specified by this part shall be 
recorded in individual data channels that conform to SAE Recommended 
Practice J211, Rev. Mar95, ``Instrumentation for Impact Tests,'' except 
as noted, with channel classes as follows:
    (1) Head acceleration--Class 1000
    (2) Neck:
    (i) Forces--Class 1000
    (ii) Moments--Class 600
    (iii) Pendulum acceleration--Class 180
    (3) Thorax:
    (i) Rib acceleration--Class 1000
    (ii) Spine and pendulum accelerations--Class 180
    (iii) Sternum deflection--Class 180
    (iv) Forces--Class 1000
    (v) Moments--Class 600
    (vi) Shoulder forces--Class 180
    (4) Lumbar:
    (i) Forces--Class 1000
    (ii) Moments--Class 600
    (iii) Torso flexion pulling force--Class 60 if data channel is used
    (5) Pelvis:
    (i) Accelerations--Class 1000
    (ii) Iliac forces--Class 180
    (6) Femur forces--Class 600
    (m) Coordinate signs for instrumentation polarity shall conform to 
the Sign Convention For Vehicle Crash Testing, Surface Vehicle 
Information Report, SAE J1733, 1994-12.
    (n) The mountings for sensing devices shall have no resonant 
frequency less than 3 times the frequency range of the applicable 
channel class.
    (o) Limb joints must be set at one G, barely restraining the weight 
of the limb when it is extended horizontally. The force needed to move 
a limb segment shall not exceed 2G throughout the range of limb motion.
    (p) Performance tests of the same component, segment, assembly, or 
fully assembled dummy shall be separated in time by not less than 30 
minutes unless otherwise noted.
    (q) Surfaces of dummy components may not be painted except as 
specified in this subpart or in drawings subtended by this subpart.
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

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    Issued: June 28, 2005.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.

[FR Doc. 05-13659 Filed 7-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-C