## 1 Introduction  
The analysis of mechanical behavior and the evaluation of durability and resilience under dynamic impact loads is an essential process in various industries (e.g., aerospace, glazing, security, and automotive) [1, 2]. Dynamic impact scenarios are generally categorized based on the velocity and mass of the impacting body [3]. Specifically, these are low-velocity impacts, intermediate-velocity impacts, ballistic or high-velocity impacts, and hyper-velocity impacts. These categories range from velocities below 10 m/s for low-velocity impacts, 50 m/s to 1000 m/s for intermediate-velocity impacts, 1 km/s to 2 km/s for ballistic impacts, and 2 km/s to 5 km/s for hyper-velocity impacts [4]. This classification is an important basis for understanding the energy transfer from the projectile to the target, the energy dissipation, and the damage propagation mechanisms that define these different impact scenarios. Given its unique characteristics, low-velocity impact (LVI) requires a critical assessment among these impact categories. LVI scenarios, such as accidental collisions with birds during aircraft take-off and landing, hailstorms, or tools accidentally falling on structures [5, 6], can be particularly hazardous due to the subtlety of the damage inflicted, which may not be immediately apparent after impact [5]. The underlying hazard lies in the fact that the structural defects caused by LVI can be difficult to detect [7]. This is exacerbated by the prolonged duration of the impact, leading to a dynamic structural response in a larger region [8]. Various test procedures have been developed to understand the responses to low-velocity impacts [9]. Experimental methods used for this purpose lack standardized criteria and usually employ custom designs with user-defined requirements [10, 11]. Available testing techniques for LVI include the [PERSON] and Charpy technique [12, 13, 14], which is used to evaluate the impact strength of materials. In addition, the drop-weight technique [15] is a method in which a mass is lifted to a certain height before it is released, causing an impact on the specimen. In the pendulum impact method, a certain weight is suspended from a rope or rod so that it reaches a certain velocity after being released from a certain height [16]. In the shock tube technique, on the other hand, compressed air or a liquid is suddenly released in a channel and a certain weight is thrown at the sample at a certain velocity [17; 18; 19]. A summary of these techniques can be found in Table 1[17; 18; 19]. A discussion of these techniques is given in Table 1.  
Variations and modifications of the above impact test methods have been developed to increase the adaptability and mitigate the limitations of these methods [8]. In 2002, a multipurpose testing system capable of applying mechanical energy to specimens using a two-carriage compression setup was introduced [25]. Its versatility allows for the testing of different materials, but the complexity of the setup necessitates calibration for different samples and materials. In contrast, [PERSON] et. al. developed a horizontal impact test rig equipped with load-bearing platforms and sliding supports [26]. While suitable for horizontal impact testing, altering the impact parameters to capture various impact scenarios is challenging. In addition, a test system utilizing a ball screw mechanism to accelerate a carriage and allow precise control of acceleration has been proposed [27]. However, the maintenance of the ball screw mechanism may pose challenges over time. Therefore, a simple setup for horizontal impact testing was introduced by [PERSON] et. al. using a pulley block for tensioning [28]. In a more recent study, [PERSON] et. al. presented an inventive system that allows for adjustable acceleration, distance, and flexibility in impact tests [29]. However, it struggles to accurately replicate real-world conditions, especially in high-momentum LVI scenarios.