Humanetics

Humanetics Innovative Solutions is the largest manufacturer of the crash test dummy, as measured by market share.[1] Headquartered in Michigan, the company is owned by Bridgepoint Capital, a private equity firm.

Products

Humanetics makes a variety of dummies, ranging from newborn infants and adults to the obese and the elderly.[2] The dummy product line-up includes a range of frontal, side and rear impact and child crash test dummies.[3] Humanetics also offers finite element virtual dummy models representing a range of frontal, side and rear impact dummies, as well as child, aerospace and military dummies, dummy headforms and pedestrian leg forms.[4] Through its acquisition of DSD Testing,[5] Humanetics added to its product portfolio test equipment used to evaluate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles including an Ultra Flat Overrunable (UFO) robot platform and a Driving Robot.[6] Other products include a Dummy Positioning System (DPS),[7] a pre- and post-measurement system of crash vehicles called ProCam,[8] test fixtures to certify dummies,[9] ATD calibration software,[10] and a range of instrumentation including load cells, accelerometers, potentiometers and IR-TRACCs (Infra-Red Telescoping Rod for the Assessment of Chest Compression).[11]

Its most biofidelic model is THOR (Test device for Human Occupant Restraint). Humanetics developed THOR with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The dummy has 57 sensors that analyze 140 factors such as chest compression, sternum acceleration, and skull shifting.[12] Humanetics produces a THOR-50M representing a 50th percentile adult male, a THOR-5F representing a 5th percentile female, and a THOR-AV 50M and THOR-AV 5F for autonomous vehicle safety testing.[3]

As of 2018, Humanetics has begun 3D printing dummies.[13] This process is cheaper and faster than the traditional steel-based one, and produces parts that are more durable.[14]

Ownership

Since 2018, Humanetics has been owned by Bridgepoint Capital, a private equity firm.[15] Previous owners included Golden Gate Capital[16] and Wynnchurch Capital.[17]

Acquisitions

Notable acquisitions include the following:

  • In 1999, Humanetics acquired the dummy-development and manufacturing business of the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research.[18]
  • In 2001, Humanetics acquired HITEC Sensor Solutions (now HITEC Sensor Solutions), an American manufacturer of specialized strain-gage applications.[19]
  • In 2015, Humanetics acquired FronTone, an Austrian manufacturer of safety-test equipment.[20]
  • In 2017, Humanetics acquired Fibercore Limited, a British manufacturer of specialty optical fibers.[21]
  • In 2018, Humanetics acquired DSD Testing, an Austrian manufacturer of safety-test equipment.[5]

Facilities

Humanetics has two plants in the United States: one at its headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan, where it focuses on instrumentation, and another in Huron, Ohio.[22] The company also has facilities in: The Netherlands; Heidelberg, Germany; Graz and Linz, Austria; Shanghai, China; Bangalore, India; and Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan.[23]

The Advanced Driving System Consortium

In 2019, several automakers and suppliers formed the Advanced Driving Systems Consortium. Founding companies include BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Zoox, Faurecia, Autoliv, and Humanetics.[24] The group’s goal is to develop seating standards that the NHTSA can use for autonomous vehicles.

Leadership

Humanetics' President and Chief Executive Officer is Christopher O’Connor.[25]

References
  1. Gruley, Bryan (October 25, 2018). "Crash-Test Dummies Are Getting Fatter Because We Are, Too". Bloomberg Businessweek.
  2. "Crash-Test Dummies are Older and Fatter — Just Like Many Americans". Fox 40. February 11, 2017.
  3. "Crash Test Dummies | Humanetics ATD". www.humaneticsatd.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  4. "Crash Test Dummies | Humanetics ATD". www.humaneticsatd.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  5. "Crash test dummy maker Humanetics buys Austrian manufacturer". Automotive News. March 6, 2018.
  6. "Active Safety | Humanetics ATD". www.humaneticsatd.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  7. "Dummy Positioning System (DPS) | Humanetics ATD". www.humaneticsatd.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  8. "ProCam | Humanetics ATD". www.humaneticsatd.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  9. "Fixtures | Humanetics ATD". www.humaneticsatd.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  10. "Software | Humanetics ATD". www.humaneticsatd.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  11. "Instrumentation | Humanetics ATD". www.humaneticsatd.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  12. "The $400,000 Man: A Smarter Crash-Test Dummy Called Thor". Bloomberg Businessweek. February 18, 2016.
  13. "Humanetics creates "elderly" crash test dummy with help of 3D printing". TCT Magazine. May 22, 2018.
  14. "3D Printing For Dummies: Replicating Grandma's Fragile Bones For Vehicle Crash Tests". Forbes. May 24, 2018.
  15. "Bridgepoint Buys Safety Technology Holdings From Golden Gate". The Wall Street Journal. February 13, 2018.
  16. "Crash-Test Dummy Maker Fetches $250 Million". The Wall Street Journal. December 4, 2013.
  17. "Crash-test dummy maker sees sale as smart move for growth". Crain's Detroit Business. December 8, 2013.
  18. Haslam, David (2013). The Humanetics Story: An Illustrated History of the Crash Test Dummy. HMSI Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 098519961X.
  19. Haslam, David (2013). The Humanetics Story: An Illustrated History of the Crash Test Dummy. HMSI Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 098519961X.
  20. "FronTone becomes Part of Humanetics". carhs. February 3, 2015.
  21. "H.I.G. Capital Announces the Sale of Fibercore". Business Wire. February 2, 2017.
  22. "Milan firm to double size of manufacturing plant". The Blade. August 7, 2008.
  23. "About Us". Humanetics.
  24. "Reimagining federal safety standards". Automotive News. January 28, 2019.
  25. "Global Management Team". Humanetics ATD.
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