Two dozen other scientists across a wide span of disciplines are planning to use the microscope. Among them are nanostructures researchers who are creating a range of new thin films and alloys. Two Hopkins engineering students are devising a padded lap bar restraint as part of their Engineering Design Projects course. While fatalities on school buses are rare, the severity of injuries when buses roll or fall into ravines can be devastating. There's currently nothing in most school buses for side impact or rollover crashes, where severe injuries take place.
Shoulder belts are impractical in most buses, and lap belts can cause abdominal injuries.
They can sit right next to the class nerd and whap him upside the head. But that doesn't prevent children from becoming projectiles in the event of a major crash. So Pantano and Thompson have designed a padded lap bar, similar to the one found on some roller coasters. It would not be automatic because in a crash electronics could fail. Under their proposed design, the bar would be mounted on the floor next to the seats.