Adaptive energy absorption module and vehicle bumper assembly

An adaptive energy absorption module for a vehicle bumper assembly, the adaptive energy absorption module comprising:

• a primary deformable impact absorber member defining a first/primary impact chamber having a shape that is structurally adaptive or otherwise conforms to an impact force received by a bumper body of the vehicle bumper assembly;
• a secondary deformable impact absorber member arranged in the primary impact chamber and itself defining a secondary impact chamber containing a shear thickening fluid that exhibits a decreasing viscosity responsive to the impact force;
• and
• a plurality of fluidically connected tertiary deformable impact absorber members arranged in the primary impact chamber and itself defining a plurality of tertiary impact chambers containing a volume of fluid, and having a shape that is structurally adaptive to the impact force.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a bumper body;
• and
• an adaptive energy absorption module operatively connected to the bumper body, the adaptive energy absorption module including:
• a primary deformable impact absorber member defining a first/primary impact chamber having a shape that is structurally adaptive or otherwise conforms to an impact force received by the bumper body,
• a secondary deformable impact absorber member arranged in the primary impact chamber and itself defining a secondary impact chamber containing a shear thickening fluid that exhibits a decreasing viscosity responsive to the impact force, and
• a plurality of fluidically connected tertiary deformable impact absorber members arranged in the primary impact chamber and itself defining a plurality of tertiary impact chambers containing a volume of fluid, and having a shape that is structurally adaptive to the impact force.