In another example of how automotive companies strive to advance road safety (and the huge dollars they spend to do so), Toyota has developed a cutting-edge virtual human model to study internal organ injuries caused by car crashes. 

Called THUMS Version 4 (Total HUman Model for Safety), the model is a human male aged between 30 and 40-plus with a height of 175cm and a weight of 77kgs.

THUMS has detailed models of the organs within the torso which are vulnerable to injury in collisions. These organs account for half of all injuries sustained in vehicle crashes.

In developing THUMS4, Toyota engineers worked with outside research institutes and universities to use advanced CT scanners measuring the internal structure of human bodies. The latest generation THUMS contains around 14 times more information than earlier versions which concentrated on bone fractures, severed ligaments and brain tissue injuries.

Using THUMS4 will permit research to improve safety devices like seatbelts and airbags.

Currently under development are THUMS4 versions for small females and larger males.

And, further demonstrating the bilateral nature of road safety research, Toyota will make THUMS4 available for sale to other automotive companies and research organizations from later this year.