Automobile seats are now available with many and varied adjustments (particularly in the more expensive vehicles). Due to the lack of emphasis on the educational side of automobile seat usage, the comfort-enhancing benefits of these features are perhaps not being fully realised. That is, the impact from a comfort perspective has not been as large as intended. The purpose of this paper is to present preliminary information on recommended starting positions, in terms of segment-specific seat adjustability, for different occupants. As part of the protocol, 12 subjects were asked to sit comfortably in three different compact car seats. To achieve a comfortable position, subjects could, if necessary, adjust the seatback angle and the track position. In the selected vehicle segment there were no other seat features to adjust. A model was developed and validated to predict driver selected track position from subject level characteristics. Basic ergonomic principles were also used to derive guidelines for how to adjust the track position and seatback angle to optimise comfort. Future research should be focused on seats from higher-end vehicle segments, with the purpose of providing recommended starting positions for all types of seat adjustment. In the end, in order to improve seat satisfaction and, as a consequence, the driving experience, this type of information must be presented to the end-consumer in an easy to understand format. The owner's manual may be an appropriate medium. (A)
Abstract