Title: Optimisation-based approach for determining driver seat adjustment range for vehicles

Authors: Jared Gragg; Jingzhou Yang; James David Long

Addresses: Human-Centric Design Research Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. ' Human-Centric Design Research Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. ' Human-Centric Design Research Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA

Abstract: When designing for human variability in the interior cab design for a vehicle, it becomes difficult to predict an optimum driver seat adjustment range. This paper proposes an optimisation-based approach to determine the seat adjustment range without the need for population sampling and stochastic posture prediction. This paper uses boundary anthropometric digital human models, a 95% male and a 5% female, to establish the driver seat adjustment range for vehicles. The simulation predicts the optimum posture of the seated driver inside the vehicle, and also gives an indication of how comfortable the driver is while seated in the predicted posture.

Keywords: posture prediction; multi-objective optimisation; seat adjustment range; digital human modelling; driver seats; vehicle design; human variability; interior cab design; anthropometric models; simulation; driver comfort; ride comfort.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2011.044716

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2011 Vol.57 No.2/3, pp.148 - 161

Received: 04 Oct 2009
Accepted: 15 Jan 2010
Published online: 15 Apr 2015 *

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