THOR 50th Male (Metric)

*Contact your local sales representative for detailed information on our integrated THOR product options.

Simplified Option Packages

THOR stands for Test device for Human Occupant Restraint, and it is an advanced frontal impact 50th percentile adult male ATD. THOR incorporates enhanced biofidelic features and significantly expanded instrumentation compared to the standard Hybrid III 50th percentile adult male ATD.

 

Since 1985, Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of US Department of Transportation has actively supported the THOR development program. In 1995, General Engineering and Systems Analysis (GESAC) undertook the project and developed the first THOR prototype which incorporated the design elements of TAD-50M (Trauma Assessment Device – 50 Percentile Adult Male Dummy) – predecessor to THOR, to assess the whole-body trauma in a variety of occupant restraint environments. The primary design objectives were: improved biofidelity and dynamic response, incorporation of specific instrumentation relevant to injury assessment, repeatability of performance, improved durability such as overload protection and user friendliness.

 

Following the prototyping, global R&D efforts allowed for further assessment by agencies such as the Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI) and Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) who contributed in an effort to standardize the advanced dummies internationally. After conclusion of the THOR Alpha evaluations, extensive revisions were undertaken to further improve anthropometry, biofidelity, durability and usability which resulted in the latest revision THOR-NT (2005). Meanwhile, the FID project (2000-2003), consisting of a consortium of six European partners, prototyped the THOR-FT version assuming updated requirements based on extensive accident and biomechanical investigations. This work was continued in a broader consortium under the APROSYS project (2004-2009).

 

In 2006, SAE with support of NHTSA had formed a THOR TASK Force to formally evaluate the THOR-NT. An extensive list of findings were compiled based on the feedback from multitude of tests conducted in North America, Asian Pacific and European regions. As a result, recommendations based on these findings as well as from the FID and APROSYS projects were presented within the SAE Task Force (2008).

 

In the fall of 2009, NHTSA initiated a program to implement these recommendations into the THOR-NT; and by May of 2010, the first add-on Modification Kit intended to further improve performance of the existing THOR-NT was retrofitted into one of the NHTSA dummies, and resulted in the release of the THOR-K (SAE). In 2011, Humanetics was contracted by NHTSA to develop a brand new metric version (of the THOR-K) THOR-50M.

 

Currently, the THOR-50M is available for purchase, and the Modification Kits have been made available to existing THOR-NT owners. As an ongoing project, Humanetics continues to meet regularly with NHTSA to address its performances, test procedures, drawing package updates, spare parts, etc. and the final weights and dimensions are currently undergoing validation processes.

 

In addition, Euro NCAP is considering the usage of the THOR-50M dummy for future frontal impact tests as part of their continuous efforts to improve road safety. As listed in the Euro NCAP 2020 Roadmap, updated frontal impact test procedures are to be developed for implementation by 2020. These procedures will not only address restraint systems improvements but also target improved vehicle compatibility.  (Euro NCAP Roadmap 2020 .pdf)

 

 

Technnical Specifications