Objectively Defining Design Parameters Associated with Automotive Seat Comfort

越来越多的人每年花在车里的时间越来越长。**有明确的证据表明，长时间保持坐姿与较高的腰痛发生率和潜在的负面健康结果有关。与长时间驾驶有关的腰痛是**有充分证据的，腰伤是**加拿大最常见和最常报道的职业伤害，是所有可赔偿伤害中平均费用最高的。汽车座椅设计指标仍然是主观驱动的，这使得设计工程团队在开发新产品时处于一个具有挑战性的位置。工程师需要定义客观可测量的设计标准，如泡沫牢固度，悬架刚度，形状，轮廓，宽度，高度等，与用户舒适度评级保持一致。本研究解决的具体问题**是为所有座椅产品开发一种一致的设计方法，从而使**舒适。目的是确定重要的设计参数，以减少对座椅开发的主观影响，以及座椅特性如何影响长时间驾驶时的不适。本研究将考察司机在两个小时的模拟驾驶中的反应。该研究的具体目标是建立男性和女性座位配置的数据，以指导客观的座椅设计标准，并确定这些因素如何影响长时间模拟驾驶时的坐姿和舒适度。还将评估座椅材料随时间的变化，以评估座椅成分对生物物理反应的影响。研究结果将提供一个模型，允许操纵潜在驾驶员的人体测量学来评估舒适性和座椅配置之间的联系，从而为客观的汽车座椅设计方法奠定基础。开发一种客观的设计方法将减少设计时间，生产出更一致的产品，并提高最终用户的舒适度。对加拿大来说，开发一种符合人体工程学标准并能减少腰背部伤害的产品具有很大的社会价值。

An increasing percentage of the population is spending longer periods of time in their vehicles every year.**There is clear evidence that longer exposures to seated postures are linked with higher rates of reported low**back pain and the potential for negative health outcomes. Low back pain associated with prolonged driving is**well-documented and low back injuries are the most common and frequently reported occupational injury in**Canada with the highest average dollar cost of all compensable injuries. Automotive seat design metrics remain**subjectively driven placing Design Engineering Teams in a challenging position when developing new**products. Engineers need defined objective measurable design criteria such as foam firmness, suspension**stiffness, shape, contour, width, height, etc. that align with user comfort ratings. The specific problem**addressed by this research is to develop a consistent design approach for all seating products that results in**comfortable seats. The objectives are to determine the important design parameters that reduce the subjective**influence on seat development and how seat properties influence discomfort during prolonged driving**exposure. This research will examine the responses of drivers during two-hours of simulated driving. The**specific goals of the study are to establish data on the seating configurations of men and women to guide**objective seat design criteria and determine how these factors influence seated posture and comfort during**prolonged simulated driving. The seat material changes over time will also be evaluated to assess the seat**component influence on the biophysical responses. Study outcomes will provide a model that allows the**anthropometrics of a potential driver to be manipulated to evaluate links between comfort and seat**configurations forming the foundation for an objective automotive seating design approach. The development**of an objective design approach will reduce design time, produce more consistent product and result in**improved end user comfort. There is large societal value to Canada in developing a product that meets**ergonomic standards and could reduce low back injuries.