Biofidelic human seating surrogate apparatus

A biofidelic human seating surrogate apparatus (10) adapted to sit on and be supported by a vehicle seat to simulate human loading of the vehicle seat is disclosed. The apparatus (10) includes a substantially geometrically-correct, relatively hard and relatively stiff skeletal frame structure (14) having a substantially correct density. The structure (14), in turn, includes: a thoracic cage (20), a pair of scapulae (34) connected at opposite sides of the thoracic cage (20) a set of lumbar vertebrae (44) connected to the thoracic cage (20), a pelvic girdle (40), a pair of femurs (54), and a first pair of ball-and-socket joints (52) for connecting their respective femurs (54) to the pelvic girdle (46). The structure (14) further includes elastomeric plastic (62) formed over the skeletal frame structure (14). The elastomeric plastic (62) has a substantially anatomically-correct, surface geometry and a substantially correct density. At least the elastomeric plastic (62) formed over the pelvic girdle (46); the coccyx (51) and the pair of femurs (54) has mechanical properties of bulk muscular tissue in a state of moderate contraction.