A crush can to an automotive vehicle has a twelve-cornered cross section comprising sides and corners creating internal angles and external angles. A geometry of the cross section varies between a front section and a rear section of the crush can. The geometry of the cross section is optimized using a plurality of control parameters including a lateral width, a vertical width, a taper ratio, a front scaling factor, and a rear scaling factor.

A partition for separating front and rear occupant areas of a vehicle comprises a frame and multiple panel sections. The frame is for attachment to the vehicle and has a first lateral member, respective angled side tubular members and a window. The multiple panel sections are configured to fit vertically between the window and a floor and horizontally between first and second sides. The multiple panel sections comprise a first panel section for positioning adjacent the first side, a second panel section for positioning adjacent the second side and a center section laterally adjacent and separating the first and second panel members. The center section protrudes rearwardly relative to the first panel section and the second panel section. The second panel section is recessed forwardly of the first panel section and forwardly of the center section to increase space available in a rear seat aligned with the second panel section.

A system for controlling from a path of a first vehicle a second vehicle to a complementary path, the system comprising a first vehicle sub-system having a memory for time and (X, Y) position co-ordinates of the first vehicle's path; a GPS receiver for determining time and actual (X, Y) position coordinates of the first vehicle, means for comparing the first vehicle's actual position with path position at determined times as test path errors and means for transmitting the test path errors and a second vehicle sub-system having a memory for time and (X, Y) position coordinates of the second vehicle's path; a GPS receiver for determining time and actual (X, Y) position coordinates of the second vehicle, means for receiving the test path errors, means for computing a modified path of the second vehicle taking account of the test path errors and means for controlling the second vehicle.

A method for optimizing a twelve-cornered strengthening member comprises: modeling a vehicle assembly including a strengthening member having a twelve-cornered cross section; parameterizing a geometry of the strengthening member with a plurality of control parameters; defining a design of experiment using the plurality of control parameters; modeling a vehicle using the vehicle assembly; simulating a frontal impact event with the vehicle; generating a response surface based on the frontal impact event; and determining a set of optimized control parameters for the strengthening member based on the response surface.

Portable devices and methods for testing a tanker truck safety and identification system. In one example, a portable tanker truck testing device includes a plurality of contact pins configured to couple with corresponding contact pads on the tanker truck safety and identification system, a memory, a display, a wireless communication interface configured to support communication of data via at least one network protocol, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to configured to run a program to test one or more components of the tanker truck safety and identification system, to display test results on the display, and to transmit, via the wireless communication interface, test results and information to a remote computing device.