The objective of the study presented in this poster was to determine the driver-airbag module distance with and without adjustable pedals. For this study, 20 volunteers were tested in a small and large vehicle equipped with adjustable pedals. The pedals could be adjusted through extension towards the driver. The volunteers were divided into 3 height groups: short (5th percentile), medium (50th percentile), and tall (95th percentile). The volunteers sat in each vehicle and adjusted the pedals in 3 different positions: (1) Normal position, which corresponds to actual production pedal location; (2) Comfortable position, which corresponds to the driver desired pedal extension; and (3) maximum tolerabIe position, which corresponds to maximum drivable pedal extension. This position was used to obtain subjective feedback from the volunteers. For each position, the volunteer drove along a prescribed road course. The subject's comfort was evaluated through a questionnaire. The results showed the effectiveness of adjustable pedals, in particular for short-statured drivers particularly in the large vehicle. For short-statured drivers in the comfortable position, the pedal extension was higher in the large car than in the small car. However, the increase in chest-to-steering wheel distance was similar in both vehicles. This suggests that a short statured can comfortably increase his/her chest distance by 40 mm with pedal extension.
Abstract