Automotive Safety Systems Flashcards

Which automotive safety concept refers to designing vehicles so that their front structures absorb crash energy to protect both occupants and pedestrians?

Answer: Crumple zone engineering

Crumple zones are engineered regions at the front and rear of the vehicle designed to deform progressively during impact, absorbing kinetic energy and reducing the deceleration forces transmitted to the occupant cell.

What does 'ASIL D' represent in the ISO 26262 functional safety framework?

Answer: The highest automotive safety integrity level for safety-critical functions

ASIL D is the most stringent safety integrity level in ISO 26262, applied to functions where failure could directly cause serious injury or death with high probability, requiring the most rigorous design, verification, and validation measures.

What is the primary mechanism by which anti-lock braking systems (ABS) improve vehicle control during emergency stops?

Answer: Preventing wheel lockup to maintain steering control by modulating brake pressure

ABS modulates brake pressure at each wheel to keep wheel slip within the optimal range (10–20%), preventing full lockup so the driver retains steering authority during hard braking.

In side-impact crash testing (FMVSS 214), what is the test configuration used for the moving deformable barrier (MDB) test?

Answer: Barrier traveling at 54 km/h striking the stationary test vehicle at 90°

FMVSS 214 MDB tests use a 1,368 kg deformable barrier moving at 54 km/h (33.5 mph) and striking the stationary test vehicle perpendicularly at the B-pillar.

Child restraint systems (CRS) tested under FMVSS 213 must limit the head excursion of which test dummy to what forward distance?

Answer: A 3-year-old dummy with head excursion limited to 813 mm

FMVSS 213 requires that when tested with a 3-year-old CRABI dummy, the child restraint system limit head excursion to no more than 813 mm (32 inches) forward.

What is the purpose of a 'rollover curtain airbag' in a modern vehicle?

Answer: Deploy along the roofline to protect occupant heads during rollover or side impact

Rollover curtain airbags (also called side curtain airbags) deploy from the roofline along the side windows to protect occupant heads from side impact intrusion and maintain a protective cushion during extended rollovers.

Which crash compatibility strategy addresses the problem of mismatch in stiffness and height between SUVs and passenger cars in collisions?

Answer: Implementing geometric and structural compatibility zones aligned across vehicle classes

Crash compatibility improvements focus on aligning load-bearing structural elements and bumper systems across vehicle classes so that energy is distributed through compatible structures rather than one vehicle overriding or underriding the other.