Compact, lightweight and reusable local energy absorbers

A hood impact mitigation assembly comprising:

• a vehicle hood having a top surface and an underside surface;
• a vehicle component disposed underneath the vehicle hood, the vehicle component having a top surface facing the underside surface of the vehicle hood;
• and
• an energy absorbing structure disposed between the vehicle hood and the vehicle component and attached to one of the underside surface of the vehicle hood and the top surface of the vehicle component, the energy absorbing structure including:
• a base;
• a loading platform spaced apart from the base;
• a pair of side supports projecting from the base toward the loading platform, wherein the base and the side supports are integrally formed as a single piece;
• a center support projecting from the loading platform toward the base, wherein the loading platform and the center support are integrally formed as a single piece;
• and
• a pair of flexible segments extending from the side supports to the center support and connecting the side supports to the center support, the flexible segments having straight edges and curved surfaces disposed between the straight edges, wherein:
• the straight edges extend from the side supports to the center support and are oriented at an oblique angle relative to the base;
• each of the curved surfaces faces one of the base and the loading platform;
• and
• the flexible segments are formed separate from the base, the side supports, the loading platform, and the center support.