A novel method for determining the optimal adjustable ranges of vehicle seats and steering wheels

Abstract

Ergonomics is an essential part of vehicle design for there are many different forms of interactions that take place between the vehicles and their drivers. Among many aspects about vehicles, the proper settings of vehicle interior components, such as the seat and the steering wheel, are critical determinants of how ergonomic the vehicle is. The process of defining the adjustable ranges of these interior components requires the consideration of many different characteristics of humans, and one of the characteristics that makes this process difficult is the variability that lies within each individual, namely the intra-individual variability. With this knowledge, this study introduces a novel method for determining the optimal adjustable ranges for vehicle seats and steering wheels, which considers intra-individual variability using a set of driver preference data. The method is presented with a number of formulations that will offer diverse optimal vehicle interior designs. Furthermore, this study provides an exemplary case study, which clearly demonstrates how the new determination method can be used in practical situations. In addition to the demonstration, an examination on the proper setting of the cutoff value for defining accommodation is performed within the case study. The findings from this study will be of great help to the engineers and designers in the automotive industry, and will act as a useful guideline for developing and designing an ergonomic vehicle.