Background/History:

The Working Group on Accident Mechanics (AGU) is an interdisciplinary research group, incorporated as a foundation with the purpose of conducting universitary and industrial research projects, expertises, teaching, and accident reconstructions in the field of trauma biomechanics, especially where road traffic safety is concerned.

The working group has been active in various constellations and research projects since the late '70's. The foundation exists since 1997. Today, researchers in the fields of traumatology, physics/biomechanics, mechanical, automotive, and electrical engineering and computer sciences contribute to the group's various projects.

These projects encompass industrial consulting (design reviews and concept evaluations), computer simulations, engineering of safety-relevant components, crash- and impactor tests for the automotive industry as well as government agencies and insurance companies. Biomechanical expertises, also outside the field of road traffic accidents, have been performed since 1997. Since 1998, we have also established a service that offers technical accident reconstructions.

Fields of Activity Past and Present (examples):

• Benefits of Seat Belts (70's, various projects)
• Car-Pedestrian Collisions (80's, various projects)
• Motorrad- und Fahrradhelme (80's, various projects)
• Safety of Low Mass Vehicles,1991-96
• Safety Seat for Low Mass Vehicles, 1991-96
• Car-Pedestrian Collisions (industry projects, 1997-1998, 2001-today)
• Safety Concepts for Low Mass Vehicles (industry projects, 1997-1998, 1999-2001)
• Industry Consulting Whiplash Protection (1998-today)
• Child Restraints (1998)
• Whiplash Protection Seat Tests and Test Procedure (1999-today)
• Mathematical Modelling of the Cervical Spine (1998-2001)
• Systematic Database and Analysis on Collisions Causing Whiplash Injuries (1998-today)
• EU 'Whiplash II' project (2001-2003)
• Low Speed Crash Tests and Database (2001-today)
• Whiplash Protection System Evaluation and Design (2001-today)
• Design and Construction of a Helicopter Safety Seat (2002-2004)
• Biomechanics of Car-Pedestrian Collisions (2002-today)
• Diagnosis of disorders of the equilibrium organ (2003-today)
• Assessment of the ability to drive (2007-today)
• Adaptive seat design/ Whiplash associated disorders in females (2009-today)

Project partners (excerpt):

• Agusta Helicopters (Italy)
• Airbus Industries
• ASTRA Bundesamt für Strassen
• Audi AG Ingolstadt
• Autoliv Germany
• Basler Verkehrsbetriebe BVB
• bfu Beratungsstelle für Unfallverhütung
• Bucher Leichtbau Zürich
• Bundesamt für Energie Bundesamt für Verkehr
• BMW AG München
• Daimler AG Stuttgart
• DTC Dynamic Test Center Vauffelin
• Esoro AG Zürich
• Fiat Torino
• F. Porsche AG Weissach
• FVS Fonds für Verkehrssicherheit
• GDV Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft
• GM-Opel Rüsselsheim
• Ingenieurschule Biel, Abt. Automobiltechnik
• Nissan T.C. Europe
• pdb Ingolstadt
• Pilatus Stans
• Polizeikommandos
• REGA Schweiz (Swiss Air Rescue Foundation)
• Renault France
• R. Bosch GmbH
• Schweizerisches Verkehrs- und Energiewirtschaftsdepartement
• Schweizerische Versicherungsgesellschaften vor allem Zürich / Winterthur / Allianz Suisse / Suva
• Steyr Daimler Puch Graz
• SVV Schweizer Versicherungsverband
• Swiss Federal Aircraft Factory
• SwissLEM AG Lyss
• Toyota Motor Company
• Universität Zürich
• Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich VBZ
• Volkswagen AG Wolfsburg
• Zürcher Hochschule Winterthur