Abstract
Limited visibility from a mobile machine cab can decrease task performance and lead to accidents. Therefore, it is important to consider visibility issues already in the design phase. This paper describes the use of virtual prototyping in the evaluation of see-through features of mobile work machines. The goal is to evaluate whether two different machine boom transparency levels have an effect on task performance. In addition, two alternative placements of overlaid information in the operators’ field of view are assessed. A within-subject design was used in this study. Based on the results, there was no significant difference in performance between the transparency levels. However, the test participants preferred a transparency level of 70–80% (where 0% is completely opaque). Similar results were found with the placement of the overlaid information, which had no significant effect on task performance. Both placements, on the windscreen and on the tunnel wall, were equally favoured by the participants. The findings of this study contribute to the design of see-through features for mobile work machines. In addition, the study demonstrates the use of virtual prototyping in the design of novel features in human–machine systems.
Highlights
The mobile machine operator plays a significant role in optimizing the overall performance of a human–machine system
This section describes the results of the study related to transparency, overlaid information placement and simulation sickness symptoms
It can be concluded that hypothesis H1.1 is not supported: the transparency level does not have an effect on performance
Summary
The mobile machine operator plays a significant role in optimizing the overall performance of a human–machine system. Limited visibility of the operating area can decrease operator performance and have a negative effect on productivity and the quality of the end product. Limited visibility of the operating area surrounding the machine can endanger the safety of the operator and of other persons present within the machine’s operating area and reduce the performance efficiency of the task (CEN/TR 614-3 2010). Limited visibility can cause accidents such as collisions with other workers or vehicles, driving over an unseen edge or rollovers (Abubakar et al 2010; Ruff et al 2011). Kumar and Ghosh (2014) mentioned visibility as one of the main causative factors of accidents with open-cast coal mining machinery Limited visibility can cause accidents such as collisions with other workers or vehicles, driving over an unseen edge or rollovers (Abubakar et al 2010; Ruff et al 2011). Kumar and Ghosh (2014) mentioned visibility as one of the main causative factors of accidents with open-cast coal mining machinery
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