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This paper presents the concept of smart structures dedicated to improving structural safety in case of unpredictable impact loadings. The concept is developed by bringing together two different ideas: adaptive impact absorption (AIA) and structural health monitoring (SHM). The potential for safe energy dissipation is maximized by optimum structural adaptation to impact loading parameters, for which the AIA subsystem is responsible. The SHM subsystem is used for on-line identification of impact type loadings, which is necessary in order to trigger optimum adaptation, as well as for post-impact damage assessment. Both subsystems depend on smart material technologies: optimum adaptation can be implemented through a small number of optimally distributed structural fuses, that is elements with controllable yield stresses, which can be implemented using magneto-rheological fluids, while the health and loading monitoring require a reliable sensing system, e.g. based on piezo-materials. The paper presents the general concept, provides a literature review and discusses in detail the challenges related to the SHM part.