Interpretation ID: 77-3.46

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 08/04/77

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Joseph J. Levin Jr.; NHTSA

TO: Humanoid Systems

TITLE: FMVSR INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This responds to your June 3, 1977, request for confirmation that @ 572.7(b) of Part 572, Anthropomorphic Test Dummy (49 CFR 572), specifies a minimum time period during which the pendulum used in testing may not reverse direction rather than an exact time.

Your interpretation is correct. The specification that the pendulum "shall not reverse direction until T=123 ms" means that reverse travel must not occur earlier than 123 milliseconds after chordal displacement begins. The agency believes that this language can be improved and intends to clarify it at the next opportunity.