Support for safer seat development
From development to validation testing, TÜV SÜD’s DYCOT laboratory provides manufacturers and suppliers with reliable data to support safer car seat design.
Why whiplash injuries matter
One of the most common consequences of a rear-end collision is what is commonly known as whiplash syndrome, an injury to the cervical spine caused when the head jerks back and forth. Symptoms often only become apparent after some time – ranging from headaches and neck pain to dizziness, sleep disorders and psychological complications. Injuries to the cervical spine resulting from such impacts are not usually life-threatening; however, their long-term consequences make them a very significant problem and one of the most common causes of insurance claims relating to road traffic accidents.
Car manufacturers have therefore been investing in the long-term development of safer seats and head restraints. Independent testing plays a key role in this process and is offered to manufacturers worldwide by the TÜV SÜD Czech Safety and Electronics Test Centre in Bezděčín, which is home to the specialised DYCOT laboratory.
Inside TÜV SÜD’s DYCOT laboratory
Inside TÜV SÜD’s DYCOT laboratory
The TÜV SÜD DYCOT facility is the only laboratory within the TÜV SÜD Group in Europe equipped with state-of-the-art technology for dynamic non-destructive testing of car seats. The DYCOT name is derived from the English term ‘Dynamic Component Testing’. Non-destructive testing does not involve a sudden impact against an obstacle, but rather utilises the effect of extreme acceleration generated by a catapult system, whose acquisition represented an investment of tens of millions of Czech crowns.
The catapult system imparts the required acceleration to the test object in a split second. Among other things, the laboratory performs testing in accordance with the requirements of the international UN-ECE R17 regulation on seat strength. In addition, it carries out tests in accordance with the Euro NCAP Whiplash methodology, which, although not mandatory, has a significant influence on customers’ decisions when choosing a vehicle.
Simulating real-life accidents with repeatable precision
Whiplash testing is extremely sensitive to the accuracy of the impact profile, the repeatability of measurements and the behaviour of the seat within milliseconds. What makes the DYCOT laboratory unique is its ability to repeatedly simulate real-life accidents, test seats even before a vehicle is certified, and help manufacturers optimise their designs right from the development stage.
How non-destructive testing supports seat development
A major advantage of non-destructive testing is the ability to repeat tests under exactly the same conditions. It provides accurate data obtained from sensors and high-speed cameras positioned both inside the structure and along the test track. Cameras typically capture up to a thousand frames per second.
During the assessment, experts check the correct position of the head restraint, the distance between the dummy model’s head and the head restraint, as well as the shape and rigidity of the seat itself. Based on these findings, car manufacturers modify seat designs, reinforce structural elements or develop new types of active head restraints.
The simulations use special dummy models that comply with international certification standards. The dummy models are fitted with hundreds of sensors that enable highly accurate measurements; the cost of a single dummy model exceeds €1.5 million.
Improving vehicle safety through advanced whiplash testing
The laboratory then analyses the measured data and passes it on to its customers, namely car manufacturers and their suppliers. According to available studies, modern seats equipped with effective protection against whiplash injuries reduce the risk of injury by 50 to 60 per cent. In addition, they help reduce insurance companies’ costs and improve the overall safety of cars.
Car manufacturers are paying increasing attention to the development and testing of seats. Modern car seats with high-quality whiplash protection significantly improve passenger safety and reduce the long-term health consequences of road accidents.
“In 2025 alone, we carried out almost 500 tests at the DYCOT laboratory, with seat tests accounting for around two thirds of these. The findings provided by the TÜV SÜD DYCOT laboratory help drive automotive development towards even greater safety,” concludes Filip Novotný.