Whiplash-reducing car seat wins automotive tech competition
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff
University of British Columbia PhD candidate Daniel Mang took home a $10,000 scholarship for his work
Toronto—An adaptive car seat that reduces whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions was the winning submission for Daniel Mang, a PhD candidate who won AUTO21 TestDRIVE competition.
Mang took home a $10,000 scholarship for his work on the anti-whiplash car seats.
Mang helped design an adaptive anti-whiplash car seat that, unlike current anti-whiplash devices, can adjust seat hinge rotation and seat back cushion deformation properties depending on the height and mass of the occupant and the collision severity.
Mang works under the supervision of the following University of British Columbia faculty: Dr. Jean-Sébastien Blouin, associate professor of medicine, Dr. Gunter Siegmund, professor of kinesiology and Dr. Douglas P. Romilly, associate professor of mechanical engineering.
The AUTO21 TestDRIVE competition showcased technologies and automotive knowledge developed in part by Canadian university graduate students.
As Canada’s automotive research program, AUTO21 provides funding to 40 applied R&D projects at 47 universities across the country. Close to 400 students contribute to these projects, along with nearly 200 academic researchers.
“AUTO21’s TestDRIVE competition gives our top students an opportunity to showcase their industry-led research, while bringing leading-edge technologies one step closer to the automotive market,” said Dr. Peter Frise, Scientific Director and CEO of AUTO21. “Highly Qualified People (HQP) are the future of a critical sector in the Canadian economy. They’re the people who will design the products and operate the factories that will make it possible for Canada to compete in the automotive world.”
TestDRIVE was hosted in partnership with the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and held in conjunction with the annual general meeting of the Ontario Council of Manufacturing Executives in Toronto, Ont.
“Canada’s automotive sector is one of the most influential and advanced in the country; however, it is also among the most competitive in the world,” said CME President and CEO Jayson Myers. “To maintain our edge and grow our market share, Canadian companies must be global leaders in the development and commercialization of new technologies and that starts with innovative people, innovative training, and innovative partnerships. AUTO21’s TestDRIVE Competition is a great showcase of all three.”
In addition to the $10,000 scholarship, a $5,000 scholarship was awarded to Mahmoud Khater of the University of Waterloo for his research on micro-electromechanical systems.
