The rapid adoption of software to simulate human reach motions in the design of vehicle interiors and manufacturing and office workstations has required sophisticated understanding of human motions. The task of interest in this paper is reaching to a variety of locations within the interior of an automobile: for example, moving the right hand from the steering wheel to the center console, overhead console, radio, or passenger side door. The paper describes how more than 3,000 right-arm reaching motions of 20 men (mean age 36.3, mean stature 175.2 cm, mean weight 79.3 kg) and 18 women (mean age 34.2, mean stature 162.2 cm, mean weight 60.9 kg) were captured and statistically modeled. Results revealed that stature and age had a larger effect than gender on reach motion postures for motions chosen by participants while reaching to targets placed throughout a typical automobile interior. It is suggested that these methods, models, and results can assist the further development of human motion simulation software for ergonomic purposes, such as for the design or evaluation of vehicle interiors, to ensure that various population groups are physically accommodated.
Samenvatting