Adaptive Automobile Seat Design Based on Ergonomic Principle

In order to improve the comfort of automobile seat, it is necessary to analyse and study the design method of automobile seat. A design method of adaptive automobile seat based on ergonomics principle is proposed. The height, width, depth, backrest, seat inclination and backrest inclination of automobile seat as well as the sitting posture physiology and body pressure distribution of human body are analysed. The frame of automobile seat is designed by using aluminium alloy in PROE software, the size of the energy absorption of headrest, cushion and seat are determined according to national regulations. By analyzing the back force, pillow force, seat belt force and seat belt locking, the force of automobile seat, the strength of back, head pillow and seat cushion of automobile seat are designed and the design of adaptive automobile seat is completed. The experimental results show that the proposed method has high comfort, low processing cost and high production efficiency.

Ride Comfort of Urban Minibus Driver through Optimization of Seating Parameters and Vehicle Speed

The current research details the urban minibus drivers comfort levels. These buses are used for shuttle services within the city as well as school services. Long seating is a vibrant risk factor for back pain for minibus driver’s exposed to whole body vibration (WBV). In this paper, effects of seat inclination, speed and seat distance from the ABC pedal on seat acceleration are investigated by the statistical methods of analysis of variance (ANOVA), Taguchi’s orthogonal array, regression analysis. Process parameters are prioritized by Taguchi’s L27 orthogonal array. ANOVA determines the significance and percentage contribution of each parameter. Seat inclination has a greater contribution on ride comfort followed by the speed and seat horizontal distance. To optimize the human comfort vibration in minibus, genetic algorithms and multiple regression models were used. The values predicted from experimental, regression model and genetic algorithms values are found to be in good correlation.

RADIOGRAPHIC MORPHOLOGY OF THE ULNAR HEAD

Posteroanterior radiographs of 102 normal wrists were studied to determine the morphological characteristics of the ulnar head associated with the value of ulnar variance. Ulnar variance, ulnar styloid length, ulnar head diameter, ulnar seat inclination, and the distance of ulnar head peak to the distal radioulnar joint were measured together with the third metacarpal length as a reference of the size of the wrist. Moderate correlation was confirmed not only between ulnar variance and ulnar seat inclination but also between ulnar variance and the distance of the ulnar head peak. Furthermore, we found a statistically significant correlation between ulnar variance and ulnar head diameter. The results showed that whole ulnar head configurations are affected by ulnar variance although there are considerable variations.

Effect of Seat Inclination on Seated Pressures of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Background and Purpose. Manual wheelchair configurations commonly include “squeezing” the wheelchair frame to improve balance for users with spinal cord injuries. This squeezing is achieved by lowering the rear portion of the seat relative to the front of the seat while maintaining the same back angle. The study's purpose was to examine the effect of increasing posterior seat inclination on buttock interface pressures. Subjects. Nine male and 5 female subjects (mean age=37 years, SD=11.2, range=19–55) with complete thoracic or lumbar spinal cord injury were tested. Methods. Subjects sat on a pressure mat placed over a foam cushion. Pressure readings were taken at seat angles reflecting seat height decreases of 0, 5.1, 7.6, and 10.2 cm (0, 2, 3, and 4 in) of the rear of the seat relative to the front of the seat. An analysis of variance and a Duncan multiple range test were used for data analysis. Results. No meaningful differences were found in measurements of interface pressure (dispersion index, contact area, and seat pressure index), total force on seat, or peak pressure index with posterior seat inclination. Discussion and Conclusion. The data indicate no meaningful evidence that squeezing a wheelchair frame increases seat interface pressures.