DIY enthusiasts

A new type of test sled is set to improve the safety of everybody, from children in cars to wheelchair users to Formula 1 drivers. It has already influenced the way train passenger safety is being developed. The sled has been designed and built by the world-leading Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) at the company's new £40m research centre in Crowthorne, Berkshire.

The story behind the project is how self-sufficiency left TRL in control of its own destiny — and its own IP.

The firm's existing drop-weight sled was already working to capacity so TRL's safety test specialists made a list of the design improvements they'd like a new design to incorporate, including rapid turnaround between runs to deliver answers quickly and make best use of the facility. Then TRL tried to identify who could design and build it.

As with all businesses, finance is the bottom line for TRL, regulating its investment in facilities and activities. However, since it was privatised in 1996 the company has been wholly owned by the Transport Research Foundation, a not-for-profit distributing organisation overseen by 80 members from the transport industry. Profits from TRL are invested in its own research programmes which are selected by the TRF to enhance knowledge in the critical areas of safety, environmental impact and sustainable development. So developing the sled was a hard-nosed commercial project.