Anthropometric modelling for the determination of 3-D maximum functional reach

Abstract

Maximum functional reach for 3-D industrial workspace was determined from selected structural body dimensions. Six structural body dimensions out of 19 measured in this study were found to be dominant and statistically related to the functional reach in the spectrum of the workspace. Next to arm length, the most dominant body dimension was popliteal height for the male and stature for the female. The other dominant body dimensions were: (a) slump eye height and thigh clearance for both sexes; (b) stature and forearm–hand length for the male; (c) shoulder height and slumped shoulder height for the female. Multiple regression models were built and validated using the dominant body dimensions as the independent variables for the determination of the functional maximum reach distances of each participant in the workspace. The probability of rejection for any of the models was 0.01. The standard error for all models varied from 22 to 59 mm. The comparison of the observed and estimated volume of the maximum (3-D) workspace revealed that for the male sample, the estimation error was within ±9.5% and the corresponding error for the female sample was ±10.5%. The estimation method developed in this study provides an alternative to more time-consuming and difficult methods to empirically determine the reach envelope of an operator.