Title: Classic JACK modelling of driver posture and line-of-sight for operators of lift-trucks

Authors: Alison A. Godwin, Tammy R. Eger, Linde Corrigan, Sylvain G. Grenier

Addresses: School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada. ' School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada. ' School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada. ' School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada

Abstract: Several reports indicate that lift-truck (LT) drivers may be at higher risk for developing musculoskeletal injuries due to postures that must be adopted in order to manoeuvre the LT in industrial workplaces. This research uses a human simulation program to quantify changes to line-of-sight (LOS) using driving simulations acquired from actual drivers in a closed arena setting. Video files acquired during the mock-up were decimated to 3 Hz and the resulting video files were coded in 3D Match. The resulting posture file was used to drive the animation tool in Classic JACK v4.1 human simulation software while quantifying LOS with additional virtual tools. On average, the drivers adopted awkward postures with increased levels of compression in order to have less overall LOS on both LT models. The method introduced was deemed a success at simulating human motion in a virtual environment from a simple, video record of the original motion.

Keywords: line-of-sight; LOS; human factors; lift trucks; Classic JACK; human simulation; visibility; 3D Match; low-back analysis; industrial ergonomics; computer animation; driver posture; musculoskeletal injuries; human motion; motion simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2010.036790

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2010 Vol.1 No.3, pp.259 - 270

Received: 15 Oct 2008
Accepted: 24 May 2009
Published online: 07 Nov 2010 *

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