Movable Front Guard for Pedestrian Impact and Ground Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with high bumper heights, such as light duty trucks and SUVs, pose a risk of uneven impact on pedestrian legs due to their design, necessitating a solution that addresses both pedestrian protection and ground clearance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A movable guard system for vehicle front ends, comprising a beam that can transition between two positions, with actuators and sensors to adjust its position based on vehicle location, terrain, and speed, ensuring optimal protection and clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the bumper height is increased to provide ground clearance, then the vehicle's ability to clear obstacles is improved, but the impact force on pedestrian legs is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The front end protection system is segmented into multiple components: a lower guard positioned below the bumper and an upper bumper assembly. This segmentation allows each component to serve a specific function - the lower guard manages pedestrian leg impact energy while the upper bumper provides ground clearance, thus resolving the contradiction between bumper height and pedestrian safety
Solution Approach 2:
A lower guard is introduced as an intermediary component between the ground and the pedestrian legs. This guard acts as a mediator that intercepts and manages the impact energy from pedestrian legs before it can reach the main bumper, thereby reducing harmful impact forces while allowing the bumper to maintain its elevated position for ground clearance
2Length of stationary object
If the bumper height is increased for off-road capabilities, then the ground clearance is improved, but the components below the bumper are precluded
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system is divided into separate functional segments: the lower guard for pedestrian protection and the upper bumper for ground clearance and off-road capability. This segmentation enables the vehicle to maintain high bumper height for off-road use while still providing effective pedestrian protection through the lower guard component
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a vertical dimension to the protection system by positioning the lower guard below the main bumper assembly. This dimensional arrangement allows the system to provide both pedestrian protection (through the lower guard) and ground clearance (through the elevated bumper) simultaneously, enhancing adaptability without compromising either function
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a vehicle body supported by the vehicle frame. The vehicle body has a front end. The vehicle body defines a lateral axis and a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the lateral axis. The vehicle includes a guard supported by the vehicle frame and movable from a first position to a second position. The guard has a beam elongated along the lateral axis. The beam at the first position is below the beam at the second position. The beam at the second position is forward of and spaced from the front end of the vehicle body along the longitudinal axis. The guard in the second position extends downward from the beam to beneath the front end of the vehicle body.