Vehicle Interior Design Research Articles

Growable design of passenger vehicle interior space based on FAHP and FQFD.

The increasingly shortened development cycle of smart vehicles has led to a qualitative shift in the nature of automotive products. Growing spatial design of vehicle interiors can effectively satisfy users' personalisation preferences and increase their willingness to buy, as well as mitigating the environmental pollution caused by the problem of rapid replacement. Considering the subjectivity and uncertainty of users' emotional needs, this study adopts the FAHP method to comprehensively analyse and rank the SET series of factors, then combines the grey correlation method with the correlation analysis of the areas related to the interior space of the automobile, constructs the sample of the interior space of the automobile and extracts the kansei words of the space sample. Intentional vocabulary mean scores were calculated to factor analyses through kansei engineering, next the fuzzy QFD quality house was built to make affective semantic design associations and derive design weights, which are then used to guide the design and ultimately realise the design of a dynamic automotive interaction scenario. The results of the study show that the integration of different theories can reduce the uncertainties in accessing users' emotional needs. At the same time, it can provide systematic guidance for the interaction design of a growable automobile in terms of multiple dimensions of interior space connectivity, spatial layout, and perceptual experience, as well as provide valuable suggestions for the subsequent development of interior spaces.

Effects of an integrated safety system for swivel seat arrangements in frontal crash.

Objective: Autonomous vehicles (Avs) have paved the way for the arrangement of swivel seats in vehicles, which could pose a challenge to traditional safety systems. The integration of automated emergency braking (AEB) and pre-pretension (PPT) seatbelts improves protection for a vehicle's occupant. The objective of this study is to explore the control strategies of an integrated safety system for swiveled seating orientations. Methods: Occupant restraints were examined in various seating configurations using a single-seat model with a seat-mounted seatbelt. Seat orientation was set at different angles, from -45° to 45° with 15° increments. A pretension was used on the shoulder belt to represent an active belt force cooperating with AEB. A generic full frontal vehicle pulse of 20mph was applied to the sled. The occupant's kinematics response under various integrated safety system control strategies was analyzed by extracting a head pre-crash kinematics envelope. The injury values were calculated for various seating directions with or without an integrated safety system at the collision speed of 20mph. Results: In a lateral movement, the excursions of the dummy head were 100mm and 70mm in the global coordinate system for negative and positive seat orientations, respectively. In the axial movement, the head traveled 150mm and 180mm in the global coordinate system for positive and negative seating directions, respectively. The 3-point seatbelt did not restrain the occupant symmetrically. The occupant experienced greater y-axis excursion and smaller x-axis excursion in the negative seat position. Various integrated safety system control strategies led to significant differences in head movement in the y direction. The integrated safety system reduced the occupant's potential injury risks in different seating positions. When the AEB and PPT were activated, the absolute HIC15, brain injury criteria (BrIC), neck injury (Nij), and chest deflection were reduced in most seating directions. However, the pre-crash increased the injury risks at some seating positions. Conclusion: The pre-pretension seatbelt could reduce the occupant's forward movement in the rotating seat positions in a pre-crash period. The occupant's pre-crash motion envelope was generated, which could be beneficial to future restraint systems and vehicle interior design. The integrated safety system could reduce injuries in different seating orientations.

Synergetic Effect of Vehicle Interior Sound and Design on Comfortability in Cabin

Vehicle interior noise have been quiet by the development of noise and vibration reduction technique. This noise will become quieter by the engine rest in electric vehicle. Hence, vehicle occupants may expect much more comfort in cabin as if they are in living room. In addition, not only the auditory stimulus but also visual stimulus is considered to have important role for the comfortability in cabin. In this study, we then focused on the comfortability in cabin and investigated influence of vehicle interior sound and design on comfortability using VR system. In the test, various virtual interior design and interior sound recorded binaurally at cruising condition were presented in the VR system and the sound, design and total comfortability was assessed through subjective evaluation test. As the result, both sound and design comfort were observed to be essential to increase the total comfortability and synergetic effect between them was found. This indicates that the influence of sound comfort to total comfortability changes according to the design comfort. Furthermore, soft-smooth interior sound and dark-solid interior design were clarified to improve the total comfort.

Highlights from the Detroit SID Vehicle Display Symposium and Exposition

Highlights from the Detroit SID Vehicle Display Symposium and Exposition

Scenario demand-based design of new energy vehicles from the inside out and its practices

Based on the related theories of scenario study and pure electric vehicle interior design, this paper constructs scenario demand-based interior design process framework and method for pure electric vehicles. After completing construction of the design process framework and method, corresponding design practice is carried out to complete theoretical verification. The demands are sorted through KANO model. Then, a design framework is built according to the demand sorting result. Finally, specific program is designed based on the design framework. This paper perfects the theoretical system for interior design of pure electric vehicles. The interior design program for future pure electric vehicles will provide design references for interior designers.

Influence of Vehicle Interior Design and Sound on Comfortability in Cabin using VR System

Influence of Vehicle Interior Design and Sound on Comfortability in Cabin using VR System

An Accessible Autonomous Vehicle Ridesharing Ecosystem

Autonomous ridesharing vehicles provide a potential alternative and affordable mode of transportation for older adults and users with disabilities or special needs, but relatively few studies have investigated the accessibility of autonomous ridesharing applications and vehicles for them. Therefore, a participatory design approach was used to investigate the needs and challenges of this population. This investigation involved interviews, review of past focus group transcripts, literature reviews, and surveys. The findings resulted in a list of user needs to design and build prototypes of accessible technologies as part of an ecosystem for booking and riding in autonomous ridesharing vehicles. The ecosystem of technologies consisted of prototypes of a mobile application, a web application, an in-vehicle human-machine interface, an external human-machine interface, and the vehicle interior design.

Effect of various restraint configurations on submarining occurrence across varied seat configurations in autonomous driving system environment

Objective Self-driving technology will bring novelty in vehicle interior design and allow for a wide variety of occupant seating choices. Previous studies have shown that the increased risk of submarining exhibited by reclined occupants cannot be fully mitigated by changes in the seat configuration alone. This study aims to investigate the effects of three restraint countermeasures on cases with marginal submarining events and estimate their effect on submarining risk and injury prediction metrics. Methods Vehicle environment frontal crash Finite Element (FE) simulations were performed with the two simplified Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) occupant models: small female and midsize male. The baseline occupant restraints consisted of a frontal airbag, a seatback-integrated 3-point belt with a lap belt anchor pre-tensioner, and a retractor-mounted pre-tensioner and load limiter. Based on submarining thresholds identified in previous studies, three baseline configurations were identified for each occupant size. For each baseline case three restraint system modifications were evaluated. The modifications consisted of the introduction of a pelvis restraint cushion airbag (PRC), the use of a knee airbag (KAB) and the modification of the of the passenger airbag location (PAB). Simulations were performed using the USNCAP 56 km/h frontal crash pulse. Occupant kinematic data was extracted from each simulation to investigate how changes in the restraint system configuration affects submarining. Results Overall, in only one of the investigated cases did the proposed restraint modification prevent submarining occurrence, however each of the restraint modifications reduced the pelvis excursion over the baseline scenario. The presence of the PRC airbag showed the highest reduction in pelvis forward excursion for the female model. The presence of the KAB and the modified location of the PAB also contributed to reductions in excursion to a smaller degree. For the male surrogate, the KAB showed the highest reduction in pelvis forward excursion. The presence of the PRC led to a reduction in the lumbar spine shear force. Conclusions Submarining may be a major challenge to overcome for reclined occupants in autonomous driving systems. This suggests that there may not be a single generalizable currently-existing countermeasure able to effectively prevent marginal submarining cases in reclined positions.

Occupant pre-crash kinematics in rotated seat arrangements

The introduction of automated L5 driving technologies will revolutionise the design of vehicle interiors and seating configurations, improving occupant comfort and experience. It is foreseen that pre-crash emergency braking and swerving manoeuvres will affect occupant posture, which could lead to an interaction with a deploying airbag. This research addresses the urgent safety need of defining the occupant’s kinematics envelope during that pre-crash phase, considering rotated seat arrangements and different seatbelt configurations. The research used two different sets of volunteer tests experiencing L5 vehicle manoeuvres, based in the first instance on 22 50th percentile fit males wearing a lap-belt (OM4IS), while the other dataset is based on 87 volunteers with a BMI range of 19 to 67 kg/m2 wearing a 3-point belt (UMTRI). Unique biomechanics kinematics corridors were then defined, as a function of belt configuration and vehicle manoeuvre, to calibrate an Active Human Model (AHM) using a multi-objective optimisation coupled with a Correlation and Analysis (CORA) rating. The research improved the AHM omnidirectional kinematics response over current state of the art in a generic lap-belted environment. The AHM was then tested in a rotated seating arrangement under extreme braking, highlighting that maximum lateral and frontal motions are comparable, independent of the belt system, while the asymmetry of the 3-point belt increased the occupant’s motion towards the seatbelt buckle. It was observed that the frontal occupant kinematics decrease by 200 mm compared to a lap-belted configuration. This improved omnidirectional AHM is the first step towards designing safer future L5 vehicle interiors.

Submarining sensitivity across varied seat configurations in autonomous driving system environment

Objective Self-driving technology will bring novelty in vehicle interior design and allow for a wide variety of occupant seating choices. Thus, vehicle safety systems may be challenged to protect occupants over a wider range of potential postures. This study aims to investigate the effects of the seat cushion angle on submarining risk, lumbar spine loads and pelvis excursion for reclined occupants in frontal crashes. Methods Frontal crash finite element simulations were performed with two of the simplified Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) occupant models: the small female and the midsize male. Occupant restraints consisted of a frontal airbag, a seatback-integrated 3-point belt with a lap belt anchor pre-tensioner, and a retractor pre-tensioner with a force limiter. For each simulation, parameters including seat cushion angle (3°, 8°, 13°), seatback recline angle (0°, 10°, 20°, 30°), and knee bolster (KB) position relative to the occupant (baseline and no KB) were varied. A full-factorial simulation matrix was performed using the USNCAP 56 km/h frontal crash pulse. Occupant kinematics data were extracted from each simulation to investigate how changes in seat cushion angle, anthropometry, seatback angle, and KB position would affect submarining across all simulated cases. Results Overall, the F05-OS female model was more likely to submarine when compared to the male occupant model. The threshold for submarining was also affected by the seat cushion angle, seatback angle and KB distance. For the F05-OS model, increasing the seat cushion angle to 13° prevented submarining in the 10° seatback angle case, regardless of the KB position. Similarly, the 13° cushion angle prevented submarining for the M50-OS in the 30° seatback angle configuration but only in the presence of a KB. The results further show an increased lumbar flexion load with increased seat recline angle, as well as occupant-to-KB distance, although an opposite trend with the increased seat cushion angle. Conclusions Submarining may be a major challenge to overcome for reclined occupants in autonomous driving systems. This study shows that seat cushion angle plays a role in restraining occupants in recline scenarios, but it is not sufficient to prevent submarining without additional countermeasures.

Inner Space

Vehicle interior design is entering one of its most exciting and transformative eras as the move to electric powertrains presents a number of opportunities to enhance cabin proportions and create more intuitive layouts

Accessible Design of Low-Speed Automated Shuttles: A Brief Review of Lessons Learned from Public Transit

Low-speed, driverless automated shuttles have the potential to significantly improve community mobility for older adults and people with disabilities who are otherwise unable or ineligible to drive. However, accessibility and inclusive design of these shuttles to accommodate the spectrum of human abilities and impairments is impeded by the lack of accessible design regulations, standards, and information tools specific to automated vehicles. In light of the scarce accessibility research on automated shuttles, a literature review on public transit was performed. A total of 66 documents were identified addressing components of the public transit travel chain involving older adults and people with disabilities. This paper reviewed 11 of the documents pertaining to onboard circulation. Findings highlight the importance of vehicle interior design on accessibility and usability for people with impairments, the inadequacy of existing accessibility standards when designing beyond minimum requirements, and a lack of evidence-based design tools and information to support designing for accessibility. An interactive web-based repository for transportation accessibility research is introduced to inform the accessible design of LSAS, along with directions for future research.

Development of design project of mini cross-country vehicle KORSAK

This article reviews different design options for small-size cross-country vehicle KORSAK. That includes 5 options of the vehicle exterior design and the final version, 5 options of the vehicle interior design, 2 options of seats arrangement and the final approved option of the vehicle chassis. The vehicle model made to scale 1:10 is shown in the picture.

Submarining sensitivity across varied anthropometry in an autonomous driving system environment

Objective: Self-driving technology will bring novelty in occupant seating choices and vehicle interior design. Thus, vehicle safety systems may be challenged to protect occupants over a wider range of potential postures and seating choices. This study aims to investigate the effects of occupant size, seat recline, and knee bolster position on submarining risk and injury prediction metrics for reclined occupants in frontal crashes.Methods: Frontal crash finite element (FE) simulations were performed with the 3 simplified Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) occupant models: small female, midsize male, and large male. Additionally, a detailed GHBMC midsize male model was used to compare with selected simplified cases. For each simulation, parameters including seatback recline angle (0.9°, 10.9°, 20.9°, 30.9°) and knee bolster position relative to the occupant (baseline, close, far, and no knee bolster) were varied. Impacts were simulated with the U.S. New Car Assessment Program 56 km/h frontal crash pulse. Occupant kinematics data were extracted from each simulation in a full-factorial sensitivity study to investigate how changes in anthropometry, seating position, and knee bolster position would affect submarining across all simulated cases.Results: Overall, increasing the occupant-to–knee bolster distance resulted in more submarining cases. The threshold for submarining was also affected by the seat recline angle. The lowest threshold observed occurred with 10.9° of recline with the small female model. Submarining was observed at recline angles at and above 20.9° for the midsize male model and 30° for the large male model. The initial lap belt position, pelvis orientation, and their relationship were good predictors of submarining. Increased lumbar flexion moment was observed with increased seat recline angle as well as occupant-to–knee bolster distance. The detailed GHBMC model was more prone to submarining than the simplified model.Conclusions: Submarining may be a major challenge to overcome for reclined occupants, which may become more prevalent with autonomous driving systems. This study shows that the angle of recline, anthropometric variation, and position of the knee bolster affect the risk of submarining. To our knowledge, this is the first study to computationally evaluate the occupant protection implications of seatback recline for multiple body sizes, postures, and positions relative to the vehicle interior.

AEIOU 평가요소를 이용한 자율주행차량 인테리어 디자인 특성 연구

AEIOU 평가요소를 이용한 자율주행차량 인테리어 디자인 특성 연구

Development of statistical geometric models for prediction of a driver's hip and eye locations

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1517 and J941 models of a driver-selected seat position and a driver's eye location mainly rely on their statistical linear relationships with seat configuration and package variables. Although the SAE models are useful for vehicle interior design, their prediction performance was not provided. The present study was intended to develop accurate prediction models of a driver's hip location (HL) and eye location (EL) based on their statistical geometric relationships with anthropometric dimensions and driving postures. A driving simulation experiment was conducted with 40 Korean drivers (20 males and 20 females) in a seating buck reconfigurable to various package conditions. The anthropometric measurements, HLs, ELs, and joint angles of the participants were collected using an anthropometer, a motion capture system, and a digital human model simulation program. Two types (full model and simplified model) of statistical geometric models (SGMs) for HL and EL prediction were developed by multiple regression analysis of the anthropometric measurements and driving postures on the HLs and ELs. The average adjusted R2 and RMSE of the SGMs were .82 (± .06) and 25.7 (±3.3) mm, respectively. The SGMs showed accurate and stable prediction performance because the SGMs additionally incorporated the geometric relationships of HL and EL with anthropometric dimensions and joint angles. The SGMs would be useful to predict the HLs and ELs of drivers with various body sizes and joint angles in occupant packaging.

Fully automated vehicles: the use of travel time and its association with intention to use

Traditionally, time spent travelling has been seen as a ‘cost’ to the traveller. Autonomous or fully automated vehicles (FAVs) can free the driver of the driving task and allow engagement in other worthwhile activities inside the FAVs, which can transform how people travel. However, there is little understanding about how travel time can be used and how worthwhile this time can be in FAVs; and whether this is related to the intention to use FAVs. This paper addresses these questions through a multi-country questionnaire survey, with a sub-sample of chauffeur-driven car users to mimic time use in FAVs. Responses show that users are likely to engage in other non-driving activities while riding in FAVs, and these differ according to trip purpose and direction. Time spent travelling in FAVs is perceived to be more useful than in current modes of transport. Interest in using FAVs is directly correlated with perceived usefulness of time in autonomous vehicles. There is a strong correlation between intended activities in FAVs and current activities by primary car users in chauffeur-driven cars, providing some validation to the stated intention responses. Results have important implications for policy-making, time use and value-of-time research, as well as vehicle interior design.

Effects of Anthropometric Variables and Seat Height on Automobile Drivers' Preferred Posture With the Presence of the Clutch.

Objective The effects of seat height and anthropometric dimensions on drivers' preferred postures were investigated using a multiadjustable vehicle mock-up with a large number of adjustments and extended ranges. Background Many studies have been conducted on preferred driving posture under different test conditions showing mixed and even contradictory findings. No studies thus far have considered the clutch and compared Chinese and European drivers. Method Four seat height conditions were tested: free and three imposed heights (250, 300, and 350 mm). Sixty-one subjects (40 French-born and 21 Chinese-born) participated in the experiment, covering a large range of stature and sitting height-to-stature ratio. The RAMSIS kinematic model was used to reconstruct postures, and main intersegmental angles were extracted for characterizing posture. Results Under the free seat height condition, no significant differences in preferred intersegmental angles were observed between different participant groups. Seat height mainly affected trunk-thigh angle, whereas it had almost no effect on trunk orientation and other intersegmental angles. Chinese participants sat more forward in the seat, leading to a more opened trunk-thigh angle and a more reclined trunk. Conclusions Results suggest that intersegmental angles of preferred posture are not dependent on anthropometric dimensions, although shorter drivers prefer a slightly less reclined trunk. Self-selected driving posture results from a compromise between maintaining the intersegmental angles in one's preferred range and a preferred trunk orientation in space. Applications The findings contribute to a better understanding of preferred driving postures and would be helpful for improving vehicle interior design.

Ambulation Aid Use and User Performance for Transit Vehicle Interior Design

Public transportation plays an important role in shaping urban quality of life. However, urban transportation design and policy-making lacks a strong human factors knowledge base for accommodating a functionally diverse ridership including the aging and mobility impaired. This study examines seating configurations in contemporary low-floor buses and user performance for mobility impaired passengers. Task times in sitting and rising were obtained in a laboratory study using a static full-scale low-floor bus mock-up from – cane users (n=10), walker users (n=22), persons with visual impairment (n=17), and without any impairments (n=17). Significant differences in sitting and rising times across longitudinal vs. transverse seats by user group are demonstrated along with regression estimates to facilitate design evaluations. Implications of these findings, recommendations for improved low-floor bus designs and the relevance of ergonomics methods for safety, usability, and efficiency are presented.

Analysis of Automotive Interior Structure Considering Relationships Human Visual Direction Perception and Visual Space <i>KANSEI</i>

This paper discusses a design methodology of vehicle interior layouts and shape matching visual space KANSEI characteristics considering human visual direction perception. Relationships between perception and KANSEI of direction need to be quantified for the vehicle interior design based on multidisciplinary optimization among the KANSEI evaluation values of human visual direction and the other vehicle performances. Experiments were carried out for some interior layouts and shapes, which were displayed by immersive virtual reality system, with some subjects who develop the vehicle interior package. And, KANSEI evaluation values were measured by visual analog scale method for recording continuously. Experimental results demonstrate that the perception and KANSEI of direction have changes like sigmoid curve according to layouts and shapes. Also, KANSEI response surface, which was derived by using linear basis function models for expressing its characteristics, was applied to the A pillar design study.