In an initiative intended to enhance vehicle safety R&D, Toyota Motor Corporation is making its Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) software freely available starting January 2021.

The software is a joint development of Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Central R&D Labs. Unlike dummy models, which are simplified representations of humans, THUMS represents actual humans in detail, including the outer shape, but also bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and internal organs. The program can be used in THUMS represents actual humans in detail, including the outer shape, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and internal organs. Source: Toyota Motor Corp.automotive crash simulations to identify safety problems and find their solutions. Conducting simulations on computers also enables repeated analysis of a range of different collision patterns, while it can dramatically reduce development lead times and costs associated with collision testing.

The recently released THUMS Version 6 allows researchers to analyze both changes in pre-collision occupant posture and injuries sustained at the point of collision with a high degree of accuracy. The computer program is used by over 100 vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, universities, research institutions and others to study and develop safety technologies such as seatbelts, airbags and vehicle structures that help reduce injury risks in vehicle collisions with pedestrians. Vehicle safety assessment organizations are also currently considering the use of THUMS for virtual testing in their future assessment plans.

Wider accessibility to THUMS is expected to enable a greater number of people to use it in their vehicle safety research and to improve its usability as improvements are implemented and shared.