(NVision: Coppell, TX) -- First Technology Safety Systems, Inc. (FTSS) uses the NVision HandHeld laser scanner to ensure the accuracy of crash dummies, which are crucial in evaluating the performance of side curtain airbags in a rollover. FTSS is the world's leading provider of crash test dummies and computer crash simulation models for automotive, military, and aerospace applications.

The need for scanning arose when a mathematical formula was developed to define the geometry of a dummy, which, like many others, was originally based on a physical mold. “Crash dummies have been developed over the years largely as physical molds,” said FTSS Engineer Steve Goldner. “The geometry of the dummy has a major impact on crash test results but it has become essential to convert the original designs to mathematical models in order to enable improvements in manufacturing technology. It also helps avoid damage to the original mold.”

FTSS engineers designed a new dummy based on the mathematical model. Since physical measurement methods could not provide the level of accuracy needed to confirm that the new design matched dummies built from the original mold, they used laser scanning to measure the new dummy. FTSS selected the NVision HandHeld scanner for this task because of its wide-stripe laser, speed, accuracy, and ease of use. The scan data is quickly converted to an STL file, which can be easily compared to a computer aided design (CAD) model.

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