Lawrence Patrick

Lawrence Patrick
Lawrence Patrick
Born c.1920
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died April 30, 2006
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Citizenship United States
Alma mater Wayne State University;
Occupation Researcher, Educator
Known for Early pioneer in impact biomechanics, Automotive safety design improvements, Invention of the air bag
Spouse(s) Bess Patrick

Lawrence Patrick (1920 – April 30, 2006[1]) may well be considered one of the fathers of the crash test dummy. Between 1960 and 1975, while a biomechanics professor at Detroit's Wayne State University, Patrick described his work by saying "I was a human crash-test dummy",[2] Patrick allowed himself to be subject to rocket sled rides, crushing blows to the head and body, and other forms of physical abuse in an effort to develop a body of data on how the human body responded in a vehicle accident. One of his students, Harold Mertz, went on to develop Hybrid III, the current worldwide standard crash test dummy. Lawrence also subjected himself to a 50 pound pendulum to the breast plate to test the effects of a steering column on a human. Lawrence died of Parkinson's disease on April 30, 2006 at the age of 85.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Larry Patrick, pioneer auto safety researcher: 1920 - 2006
  2. ↑ Mary Roach (November 19, 1999), I was a human crash-test dummy Archived 2006-03-11 at the Wayback Machine.. Salon.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-29.
  3. ↑ Lawrence M. Patrick, 85 | BlueRidgeNow.com | Times-News Online | Hendersonville, NC


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