Lawrence Patrick Explained

Lawrence Patrick
Birth Date:c.1920
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Death Date:April 30, 2006
Death Place:Hendersonville, North Carolina
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: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 over 400 rocket sled rides,[3] 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.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Larry Patrick, pioneer auto safety researcher: 1920 - 2006 . 2008-03-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171215220245/http://www.eng.wayne.edu/page.php?id=4568 . 2017-12-15 . dead .
  2. Mary Roach (November 19, 1999), I was a human crash-test dummy . Salon.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-29.
  3. Web site: The world's hardest scientists . . 24 September 2022 . 12 November 2010.
  4. http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060501/OBITUARIES/605010313/1001 Lawrence M. Patrick, 85 | BlueRidgeNow.com | Times-News Online | Hendersonville, NC