News

People come in all shapes and sizes, but traditional vehicle safety testing has often relied on just a few standardised body types. How can we make sure future vehicles offer good protection for everyone? A new partner research project connected to SAFER aims to address this challenge by developing more representative virtual human body models for crash safety assessment.

The project, Human Body Model Morphing for Safety Assessment Across Occupant Variability and Seating Postures, brings together Chalmers University of Technology, Autoliv and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. By developing advanced digital models that reflect differences in body size, shape, sex and seating posture, researchers aim to make virtual crash testing better represent the diversity of people travelling in vehicles.

The potential road safety benefits are significant. More representative testing can help vehicle manufacturers develop restraint systems that protect a wider range of occupants, including people with different body compositions and those travelling in reclined or non-traditional seating positions, something that becomes increasingly relevant with automated vehicles. The project also aims to contribute to more harmonised safety assessment methods, helping turn research into practical tools for the automotive industry and future safety standards.

At SAFER, we are excited to follow and support this important collaboration. Making vehicle safety more inclusive is an essential step towards a road transport system that is safe for all. We look forward to sharing the knowledge and insights generated by the project with our wider research and innovation community.

The project is funded by FFI and runs from June 2026 to February 2030.

Project contact: Johan Iraeus, Chalmers University of Technology.