Vehicle energy absorbing device

A vehicle, comprising:

• a trim panel;
• an armrest supported by the trim panel;
• the armrest including an energy absorbing device, the energy absorbing device including an inboard panel, an outboard panel abutting and directly connected to the trim panel, and a member between the inboard panel and the outboard panel, the member abutting the inboard panel and the outboard panel, the outboard panel being between the inboard panel and the trim panel;
• the armrest including a covering that covers the inboard panel;
• the energy absorbing device being between the covering and the trim panel;
• the energy absorbing device having a variable crush resistance based on a temperature of the energy absorbing device, the variable crush resistance being defined by the Young's modulus of the energy absorbing device;
• a heater in communication with the processor and operatively coupled to the energy absorbing device;
• and
• a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
• actuate the heater to heat the energy absorbing device to a first temperature upon detecting an occupant having a first size;
• and
• actuate the heater to heat the energy absorbing device to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature upon detecting an occupant having a second size that is less than the first size.