MANSFIELD, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW) —On May 2, 2024, North Central State College engineering students made history by successfully crash-testing their 3D-printed vehicles at the Honda Marysville facility. This marked the first time the students used 3D printers to design and produce their vehicles, a significant advancement from last year’s PVC models.
The objective of the project was to design a vehicle that would meet the major injury criteria set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The criteria focus on the safety of the head, thorax, and knee of a passenger in a 19 MPH crash. Two distinct designs, created by separate teams of NC State engineering students, underwent rigorous testing, each reaching speeds of 19 MPH.
During the tests, the vehicles were equipped with fully instrumented crash test dummies provided by Honda. The students’ vehicles showcased advanced safety features, including custom belt systems and collapsible steering columns.
Despite the intensity of the tests, both crash test dummies passed the injury requirements, marking a significant milestone in automotive engineering. The Blue Vehicle Team, comprised of Kennadi Easter, Rebekah Haudenschild, Cheyenne Polen, and John Evans, and the Black Car Team, consisting of Noah Tuttle, Brady Zehe, Quinton Frankhouse, and Carson Barnes, demonstrated exceptional innovation and expertise, setting the stage for further advancements in vehicle safety technology.
According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), over two million car accidents occur each year, resulting in over 40,000 deaths. Behind each of these numbers is a life tragically lost and a family left behind. The research conducted by the engineering students at North Central State College aims to shed light on the safety measures inherent in vehicles, including 3D-printed go-karts, with the ultimate goal of potentially saving lives.
