Ergonomic design parameters for Malaysian car driverseating position

Abstract

A key element in an ergonomically designed driver workspace of a car is the correct identification of seating position and posture accommodation. Current practice by the automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is to utilize the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) standard practice and guidelines in the design process. However, it was found that utilizing such guidelines which were developed based on the American population, do not fit well with the anthropometry and stature of the Malaysian population. This research seeks to address this issue by reviewing the existing standard practices of Design Package and Ergonomic for seating position and accommodation used by a Malaysian automotive manufacturer, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional (PROTON), and to subsequently propose a new design parameters which better fit the Malaysian population. In the first stage, 210 respondents participated in the anthropometry measurement study to determine the range of sizes for the Malaysian population. In addition, 62 respondents were involved for the driver seating position and accommodation study in the vehicle driver workspace buck mock-up survey and measurements. The results have shown that the Malaysian population are generally shorter if compared with the SAE J833 standard specification, especially for the lower body segments. From the accommodation study, it was found that the Malaysian driver preferred to seat forward, which is probably due to the shorter limb dimensions in the thigh length, buttock length, knee length and foot length. In second stage, questionnaire survey and measurement were used to develop a new design parameters and standards for driver seating positioning and accommodation model based on the Malaysian population. Statistical regression analysis was used to assist in this design parameters development. The statistical model developed was validated by comparing the calculated value of Seating Reference Point of X axis (SgRPx) with actual measurement values measured during respondents sitting in the mock-up. The result shows the difference between the calculated and measured values was within 10 %, indicating that the equation is acceptable. The findings of research are expected to enhance and improve the design guidelines / standard reference for the local automotive industry.