Toyota recently announced the addition of three new crash test models representing children aged three, six, and ten to Version 4 of its Total Human Model for Safety software. With THUMS, injuries sustained by human bodies during vehicle crashes can be simulated and studied on computers. The new models will go on sale this fall.
THUMS can predict the severity of damage to human bodies, making it popular for the advancement of safety devices such as airbags as well as the continued development of safety performance. NASCAR, for example, uses the software to devise regulations for seat shapes that reduce the likelihood of rib fractures during racing crashes.
Toyota’s three new THUMS models were created with the average physiques of children in mind. They join the family that includes the large male, average-build male, and small female models that are already on the market. All the models will come in two versions — a passenger and a pedestrian.
THUMS Version 1 launched in 2000 and has seen steady improvements and refinements to the software. In 2003, Version 2 launched with the addition of faces and bone structure to the models. Version 3, released in 2008, added a brain simulation, and 2010’s Version 4 added detail to the brain model and also introduced properly situated and reactive internal organs. In 2015, Version 5 brought along simulated musculature, allowing the models to position themselves in a bracing manner, similar to what humans may do just before a crash.
The new child-spec models were created in collaboration with Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, and the Collaborative Safety Research Center.
THUMS can be purchased through the Tokyo-based JSOL Corporation and ESI Japan. The technology contributes to research at organizations all over the world, including automobile and parts manufacturers as well as universities.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.