Innovations that came from university research: seat belt

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 12:32:07 -0500

Did you know?
The first modern version of the seat belt was invented at Cornell University. Cornell Aeronautical Labs did some of the first crash testing of automobiles, and in 1957 Cornell teamed with Liberty Mutual Insurance to build an unusual looking concept car that incorporated the lessons learned in testing. The car did not actually run, but it featured ideas like seat belts, head rests, and padded interiors that are incorporated into today's cars. Since then, engineers have worked to enhance the modern three-point belt, which was first introduced by Volvo. It is estimated that the seat belt has saved more than one million lives in the four decades since it was introduced. In the United States alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts save more than 11,000 lives each year.

Want to conduct research and create something innovative? Become a URA Scholar!
Undergraduate Research Awards provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they will remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

Apply by Feb. 16: https://ur.umbc.edu/ura/

Contact Dr. April Householder at aprilh@umbc.edu for more information.