Science & Technology - 2nd prize
Dominik Obertreis
Bilderberg for Stern
Bilderberg for Stern
01 January, 1994
Crash test dummies in all shapes and sizes await their turn at Volkswagen's safety center. At the moment of impact more than 30 sensors per dummy send readings to the central computer. Analysts interpret the resulting graphs to establish whether - and in what condition - a person would survive the crash. The dummies at this warehouse cost around DM100,000 (US$66,000) each. At Europe's car research centers billions are expended to make tomorrow's automobile safer, more economical, lighter and less damaging to the environment. Speedy application of research results in marketable products is the key to success.