Snell, National Instruments Smash Helmets for Safety’s Sake

Whacking protective helmets until they break might seem like a fun diversion for charged up kids, but it's serious business at the Snell Memorial Foundation, which certifies the safety of all kinds of helmets. Gathering analog signals is critical for all real-world tests, particularly those that happen quickly. Snell uses National Instruments' CompactDAQ modules to gather data generated during the 36 times helmets are dropped onto steel anvils. If the system registers more than 300 Gs inside the helmet, it fails the tests. The Snell Foundation was formed in the '50s after auto racer Peter Snell died from head injuries in a slow rollover crash.