PREDICTING PRESSURE LEVEL FELT UNDER THE SEAT PAN DUE TO CHANGES IN DRIVING POSITION

Abstract

In ergonomics perspective, car seat is defined as one of the main workstation when the driver is performing driving task. The car seat itself provides support and space for the driver over the head, at the upper and lower back, at the buttock and also at the thigh. There has been abundant research regarding car seat in the past decades. However, in spite of vast studies on this issue, limited studies were found on sitting effect to the pressure when adopting different driving position. Hence, this study integrates objective and subjective evaluation to predict pressure felt level. Mapping of the pressures distribution was taken to the seat pan. This study is a static field experiment where data acquired are in the quantitative form. Findings show that the pressure of the heavier subject is more scattered at the buttock area, while the lighter subject has mild stress concentrated under ischium tuberosity.  

Keywords

• Pressure,car,seat pan,driver,discomfort

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