In this paper a new approach to driver seat position modeling is presented. The equations of the Seating Accommodation Model (SAM) separately predict parameters of the distributions of male and female fore/aft seat position in a given vehicle. These distributions are used together to predict specific percentiles of the combined male and female seat position distribution. The effects of the following vehicle parameters are reflected in the prediction of mean seat position: seat height, steering-wheel-to-accelerator pedal distance, seat cushion angle, and transmission type. The mean and standard deviation of driver population stature are included in the prediction for the mean and standard deviation of the seat position distribution, respectively. SAM represents a new, more flexible approach to predicting fore/aft seat position distributions for any driver population in passenger vehicles. Model performance is good, even at percentiles in the tails of the distribution. (A)
Samenvatting