Lawrence Patrick

Lawrence Patrick
Lawrence Patrick
Born	c.1920 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	April 30, 2006 Hendersonville, North Carolina
Alma mater	Wayne State University;
Occupation(s)	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]

References

1. "Larry Patrick, pioneer auto safety researcher: 1920 - 2006". Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
2. Mary Roach (November 19, 1999), I was a human crash-test dummy Archived 2006-03-11 at the Wayback Machine. Salon.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-29.
3. "The world's hardest scientists". The Guardian. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
4. Lawrence M. Patrick, 85 | BlueRidgeNow.com | Times-News Online | Hendersonville, NC