40 drivers from 25 to 76 years of age Mid-Size Sedan 2 hour highway drive in production seat Measurements in vehicle on highway Michigan State University research
program
Drive A
18 drivers from original 40 in Drive A
Same 2 hour highway drive in seat modified for Mid-Size Sedan
Drive B
Measurements in Drives A & B at Michigan State University.
SubjectiveComfort
Pressure Distribution
Position: 3D Video Measurements Seat Positions
Changes for Modified Seat came from driver discomfort in
Drive A and ERL model of back posture.
Modified Seat
Production Seat
11
Driver changed from slumped in Drive A to neutral back posture in
Drive B.
Drive A Production
Seat
Drive B Modified Seat
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Pelvis rotated rearward in the slumped posture.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Slumped Pelvis Position
Pelvis rotates forward when posture changes from Slumped to
Neutral
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Slumped Pelvis Position
Neutral Pelvis Position
In Drive B, drivers moved the seat 19mm forward for seat
support.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Slumped Seat Position
Neutral Seat Position
Driver selects fore/aft position for reach
and low pressure on buttocks in seatback.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Slumped Seat Position
Buttocks
In Drive B, the highest pressure point (ID) under buttocks moved rearward.
Production (ID-Pt) Modified (ID-Pt)
ID is the highest pressure point under the
pelvis.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Slumped ID Position
ID moves rearward on seat when posture changes from Slumped to
Neutral.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Slumped ID Position
Neutral ID Position
Eye height is a function of torso posture.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Slumped Line of Sight
In Drive B, the driver’s eye moved upwards 11mm and rearwards 17mm.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Slumped Line of Sight
Neutral Line of Sight
In Drive B, drivers raised the steering wheel 3.6º.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Drive ADrive B
Drive A Slumped Posture
Drive B Neutral Posture
Drivers position steering wheel fortheir preferred arm and leg joint
angles.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
ERL, LLC
Eye and shoulder rise with change from slumped to erect
postures.
ErectNeutralSlumped
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Eye
Shoulder
Every time drivers adjusted the seat,
position was recorded by computer.
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
0:00 0:28 0:57 1:26 1:55 2:24
Dis
tan
ce (
mm
)
Time
Seat Adjustments
Fore/Aft
Seat Height
Rear
Front
The longest time in one position is the Modal Period of seat position.
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
0:00 0:28 0:57 1:26 1:55 2:24
Dis
tan
ce (
mm
)
Time
Modal Period
Modal period increased from 45 in Drive A to 75 minutes in Drive
B.
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
0:00 0:28 0:57 1:26 1:55 2:24
Dis
tan
ce (
mm
)
Time
Modal Period
30
Small women prefer Neutral & Erect back postures.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
5th%tile
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Line of Sight
Headliner
31
Change in posture raises eye height for better downward vision.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
5th%tile
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Headliner
Erect Line of Sight
Slumped Line of Sight
Slumped
Erect
32
Preferred back posture is neutral which uses least
muscle activity.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
50th
%tile
All spinal joints are in the middle of their range of motion.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
33
Headliner too close for neutral posture in large
male.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
95th
%tileHeadliner
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
34
Headliner often forces large male into slumped posture.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
95th
%tile
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Headliner
35
Slumped posture needsadditional rearward
travel.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
95th
%tile
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
Headliner
Seat moves
rearward.
Head restraint position pushes head forward into slumped posture
Can be modified for comfort and Federal
regulations
Low seat back pushes buttocks forward into slumped posture.
Can be modified for comfort and Federal
regulations
Can be comfortable with different
design.
Oscar back shape does not represent a slumped posture.
Oscar: 50th% Torso 95th% LegsERL: 50th% Torso 50th% Legs
Slumped posture in 50th %tile male
Oscar back shape does not represent a neutral posture.
Oscar: 50th% Torso 95th% LegsERL: 50th% Torso 50th% Legs
Neutral posture in 50th %tile male
Oscar’s highest pressure point (ID) is posterior of the Medium Male
Oscar: 50th% Torso 95th% LegsERL: 50th% Torso 50th% Legs
Neutral ID Position
Oscar’s ID Position
47
Seat designed to pass H-point test.
SAE Practice: “Slide the H-point machine rearward … until the seat pan contacts the seatback.”
Unique Back Posture
48
Seat designed to pass H-point and Head Restraint
Tests.
SAE Standard: “Slide the H-point machine rearward … until the seat pan contacts the seatback.”
Unique Back Posture
DOT Regulation requires head restraint within 55 mm of Oscar’s head.
The production seat in Drive A did not past the H-point test.
H-point of Oscar
Test requirement: H-point within ½” of
SgRP
Seating Reference Point (SgRP)
The ERL modified seat in Drive B passed the H-point test.
H-point of Oscar
Test requirement: H-point within ½” of
SgRP
Seating Reference Point (SgRP)
Do all drivers find cars that fit?
“She said that when they went to look at new cars, she (she is about 5 ft 2 inch) never found a car that really fit her, but she accepted that, and chose cars by reliability, mileage, and color because she had no other choices!
Driver:◦ Seat◦ Pedal◦ Steering Wheel◦ Vision
The passenger needs room for feet, knees and head!
Driver needs to feel that the interior parts totally fit.
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
55
Optimize seating at beginning of design, not at the end of
development.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
5th 95th
J826
HRMD
50th
Vision
ComfortSpace
ERL Patents: US #6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138, EU #1019693 & Patents Pending
ERL’s tools in this presentation used to explain the difference between Drive A and Drive B can be used for seat design to meet H-point test, safety test, and comfort tests at the beginning of vehicle development.
Conclusion
Thanks for your time and interest.
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