Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMIHow safe are occupants of military vehicles under real-world operational conditions? Fraunhofer EMI investigates and evaluates existing safety concepts—using methods from the automotive industry.
April, 2026. Occupants of military vehicles are exposed to high risks not only in combat, but also when maneuvering in difficult terrain or under poor visibility and weather conditions. Special personal equipment can impair the effectiveness of conventional restraint systems. Fraunhofer EMI studies the biomechanical effects of kinetic forces on vehicle occupants. The goal is to precisely identify and thoroughly evaluate risks.
Experimentally, acceleration test rigs for seating systems, adjustable fixtures for restraint systems, anthropomorphic test devices and innovative diagnostic methods are available. Numerical methods such as finite element simulations applying conventional dummy and human body models complement the portfolio to develop realistic and application-oriented simulation models.
Fraunhofer EMI’s strength is the close integration of experimental and numerical expertise—from crash and acceleration tests over the application of dummy and human models and finally to an integrated injury risk assessment. This makes the institute a manufacturer-independent research partner.
Recent results demonstrate the successful development of expertise in the field of occupant safety at the institute. X-ray studies are also planned, as well as metrological methods for the purely acceleration-sensor-based tracking of spatial trajectories. The goal is to further improve the predictive accuracy of all methods.
