CPC B62D 21/152 (2013.01) [B62D 21/157 (2013.01); B62D 25/08 (2013.01); B62D 27/023 (2013.01); B62D 27/065 (2013.01); B60K 1/02 (2013.01); B60K 2001/0438 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
1. A vehicle platform comprising:
a frame structure comprising multiple interconnected structural elements forming a body having a front portion, a rear portion, and a central portion; and
wherein the front portion comprises:
an upper load path comprising an upper energy absorption unit, the upper energy absorption unit comprising a first crush zone configured to compact relative to the front portion of the body while absorbing energy from an impact force; and
a lower load path comprising a lower energy absorption unit, the lower energy absorption unit comprising (i) a second crush zone configured to compact relative to the front portion of the body while absorbing energy from the impact force and (ii) a bending zone configured to bend and deflect subsequent energy not absorbed by the second crush zone,
wherein at least one of the upper energy absorption unit in the upper load path and the lower energy absorption unit in the lower load path comprises an overlapping interface that includes a tunable crush control element having a body coupled to a portion of the frame structure within the overlapping interface and configurable to crush a predetermined range from receipt of the impact force.
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