Integration of Comfort into a Driver's Car Seat Design Using Image Analysis

Mohamad Mohamad

doi:10.3844/ajassp.2010.937.942

Abstract

Problem statement: The purposes of this study are twofold: First, to recommend a range of angles for driving posture comfort from measurement of participants and second, to investigate the relationships between drivers' anthropometric chara cteristics, comfortable postural angles and seat adjustment. Approach: Forty five participants were involved in the study . Both anthropometric data and postural angles were measured and recorded by using the photographic technique and analyzed further using software. During the study, each participant was required to sit on the driver's seat in his or her preferred comfortable driving postures. Images of t he participant's driving posture were taken after 5 min he or she has been in the driving position to allow him/her to adapt with the seat environment and fab rics. The seat adjustment data were measured manually after the seat is adjusted for comfort by the particip ant. Prior to that, 10 anthropometric data of each parti cipant was measured and recorded. Data on comfortable driving postural angles, anthropometry and seat adj ustment were analyzed statistically with Pearson correlation using the SPSS software. Results: From the study, a range of angles are proposed bas ed on the participant's perception on comfort. The ranges of comfortable angles for Malaysian citizen propos ed shows significant different between Caucasian and Korean populations. The relationships between the comfortable postural angles, anthropometric data an d seat adjustment were analyzed and discussed with several outcome shows that taller participants pref erred a driving posture with their arms outstretche d in order to achieve comfort, participants with bigger body dimension have a tendency to sit farther back from the steering wheels and smaller participants p refer to sit closer to the steering wheels with a s lightly greater trunk thigh angle. Conclusion: The result obtained and discussed in this study ca n be applied in the driver's car seat design and construction to en sure comfort and safety.

Highlights

Today’s global competition has prompted many automotive manufacturers to design their products based on consumer’s preference and satisfaction
Correlation results: As stated earlier, one of the main objectives of this study is to discuss the relationship between the comfortable postural angles, anthropometric data and seat adjustment
This study has proposed a range of comfortable postural angles through comparison with the previous studies performed on Korean and Caucasian population

Summary

Introduction

Today’s global competition has prompted many automotive manufacturers to design their products based on consumer’s preference and satisfaction. In a car seat design and development, posture of car drivers among others is a critical factor that had to be considered closely and effectively. A car driver controls the vehicle and his/her comfort and safety is important to avoid any road injury or unfortunate accident. A comfortable and safe driver’s seat plays a very important role in car design and fabrication. As mentioned by Na et al (2005), drivers’ comfort was as important as the functional and aesthetic design of automobiles since consumers are more and more concerned about safety and comfortable driving. Ergonomics is one of the important factors to consider in designing a seat. One of the most important contributions that ergonomics can provide to the automobile design process is information of the physical size of driver and his/her preferred postures (Porter and Gyi, 1998)

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion