Adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat

An energy absorption apparatus, comprising:

• a variable profile energy absorber operatively coupled between a vehicle and a structure to mitigate vibration experienced by the structure and to mitigate shock experienced by the structure during a shock event, said variable profile energy absorber having a movable element to apply forces between the vehicle and the structure to mitigate vibration and shock;
• a controller in communication with said variable profile energy absorber for adjusting a load-stroke profile of said variable profile energy absorber in real-time based on a weight or force measurement;
• and
• an elastic stiffness element releasably coupled to said moveable element by a coupling mechanism, which when operatively coupled to said moveable element, reduces a natural frequency of vibration experienced by the structure to below the vibration frequencies, and releasably coupled to permit said stiffness element to be separated from said movable element during the shock event such that said movable element moves without being operatively connected to said stiffness element.