A crash attenuation system having an improved, controlled axle release mechanism for a truck trailer mounted attenuator. The axle release mechanism has an axle release insert disposed within an outer bursting tube which is urged downstream by a mandrel resulting in controlled shearing of the fasteners passing through different size elongated slots in the insert and retaining the insert within the bursting tube. Differential shear forces cause the fasteners to shear at different times as the insert is urged downstream resulting in a controlled release of the breakaway axle assembly.

A driverless traffic management vehicle has a control system having a controller interfacing steering and drive interfaces for control of respective steering and drive subsystems of the vehicle. The vehicle also has an impact attenuator and actuator therefor for configuring the attenuator in deployed and stowed configurations. The control system comprises at least one driverless mode controller operably controlling the steering and drive interfaces for controlling the vehicle in at least one of follow mode, remote-control and autonomous driverless mode of operation. To control traffic, the vehicle may be driven to a roadside location and set in the at least one driverless mode of operation to control the steering and drive interfaces accordingly.

A system for managing wheel kinematics during a small overlap collision event includes a deflector apparatus. The deflector is configured to direct a wheel away from an occupant compartment of a vehicle. The deflector includes a first section arranged at an inside wall of a wheel well facing a wheel, near the base of a hinge-pillar. The first section includes a hollow structure configured to absorb energy from the collision event by plastically deforming. The deflector also includes a second section arranged at an angle to the wheel and configured to deflect the wheel laterally outwards from the vehicle away from an occupant compartment during the small overlap collision event. The deflector may be formed of extruded aluminum. The system may include an absorber arranged behind the first section and configured to further absorb energy from the collision event by plastically deforming.

Safe protection equipment for all vehicles will significantly reduce the collision force by spring or liquid cylinder when the vehicle bumps to obstacle or two vehicles collide with each other. This equipment can be used on both front and rear of the vehicle. Combination of springs or liquid cylinder with different elasticity can reduce the collision smoothly. This equipment will protect both vehicles and drivers without changing the current air-bag protection system. It will significantly reduce the damage for serious collision accidents. This equipment is attached to the vehicle chassis on bottom, which will bear the collision force reduced by the spring or liquid cylinder. It might require some design change in vehicle chassis. One option is to add a pad to pass the reduced collision force to the elastic tire when colliding vehicles are running in straight line.

An impact energy absorbing apparatus includes: a base, an axial crush component, a top plate, and an energy transfer component. The base is fastened to a protected object, and a tapered hole is provided on a top surface of the base. A bottom end face of the metal hollow rod of the axial crush component is joined with the top surface of the base. The energy transfer component includes a force bearing plate and a guiding rod extending outwards, where the force bearing plate is superimposed on a top surface of the metal hollow rod, the guiding rod is inserted to a position corresponding to the tapered hole in the metal hollow rod, an outer diameter of the guiding rod is less than a greatest diameter of the tapered hole, an inner diameter of the guiding rod is greater than a smallest diameter of the tapered hole.

A towable crash-attenuating vehicle is shown having a frame; at least two axles coupled to the frame, each of the axles having wheels attached thereto; a ballast coupled to the frame; deflection shields coupled to the right and left sides of the frame, wherein the deflection shields cover the frame and a majority of the wheels on each side of the vehicle; a tow connection coupled to the front of the frame; an impact attenuator coupled to the rear of the frame; wherein the vehicle is provided with a brake system, and wherein the vehicle is provided with an mechanism for locking and unlocking the brake system.

Safe protection equipment for all vehicles will significantly reduce the collision force by spring or liquid cylinder when the vehicle bumps to obstacle or two vehicles collide with each other. This equipment can be used on both front and rear of the vehicle. Combination of springs or liquid cylinder with different elasticity can reduce the collision smoothly.

This equipment will protect both vehicles and drivers without changing the current air-bag protection system. It will significantly reduce the damage for serious collision accidents.

This equipment is attached to the vehicle chassis on bottom, which will bear the collision force reduced by the spring or liquid cylinder. It might require some design change in vehicle chassis.

One option is to add a pad to pass the reduced collision force to the elastic tire when colliding vehicles are running in straight line.

A safety device is described which is configured to orient a motor-vehicle front wheel transversely to the travel direction, following a collision of the motor-vehicle against a barrier. The device includes a ram member carried by a plate projecting laterally in a cantilever fashion from the motor-vehicle structure forwardly of the front wheel. The ram member is pushed against the front wheel following a collision of the motor-vehicle against the barrier. The ram member has a vertically elongated front portion, for engaging the wheel. With the transverse plate carrying the ram member there is associated a bumper structure located forwardly of the transverse plate and including a bumper element projecting forwardly from the transverse plate, at an intermediate position between the ram member and a connected end of the transverse plate.

An impact tracking system includes a sensor module that mounts to a fixed crash attenuator, sign, guardrail, or other roadway devices installed along a roadway. When the crash attenuator or other asset is impacted by an errant vehicle, the impact tracker, comprising a sensor system, senses and captures the impact data and sends an alert message to a remote receiver. The receiver may comprise known data receiving means, such as computers or phone systems, which may receive emails, text messages, photos, and the like in real or near real time. Received data may be analyzed, stored, and/or re-transmitted to additional receivers, which may include road authorities, such as transportation departments responsible for inspecting and repairing the impact attenuators.

A crash attenuator for decelerating an impacting vehicle includes a first end that can be releasably secured to a vehicle, and a second end that is longitudinally spaced from the first end. The second end includes an impact member that is movable in the longitudinal direction from a pre-impact position to an impact position. At least a pair of spaced deformable attenuator members extend in a longitudinal direction and have a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal ends are staggered downstream from the impact member in the pre-impact position. At least a portion of the deformable attenuator members are bent in a non-outboard direction as the impact member is moved from the pre-impact position to the impact position.