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MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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Michigan State University
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Sue Nichols
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10/1/97
SITTING UP STRAIGHT KEY TO MSU AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Good posture is important to somebody besides mothers - namely auto makers. Engineers at Michigan State University are working to give them the tools to make sitting up straight in the car easy.
The solution to car seat slouch lies in the mannequins used to represent people in the seats automakers design. MSU engineers are working to design mannequins that sit like real people.
For the past 30 years, mannequins have presented flat-backed, relatively inflexible representation. The result: seats that often make real people with their natural spinal curvature slouch. Slouching and poor support means uncomfortable seats and stressed spines.
Michigan State researchers are developing computer models and mannequins, which depict the complex interaction between the torso and the pelvis.
"We're pushing the envelope on seat biomechanics," said Robert Hubbard, an engineering professor. "The standard requires a person to conform to seats that fit a flat-backed mannequin. We're looking to change that standard."
Hubbard and his students have developed methods to precisely represent how people sit in car seats - how their skeletal system rests, how people shift to achieve a comfortable position, how the lumbar region, pelvis and rib cage interact in the course of seating.
"The shape and movement of the torso is complicated - and for most engineers, it's intimidating," Hubbard said. "But even though the movement is complicated, it does follow a consistent pattern. If the pelvic portion is in a certain position, there is a chance to predict the rib cage's position."
"We're making this simple enough to provide direction for design."
The result has been a computer model, called JOHN - an average sized man. JOHN has been followed by JANE - a small woman - and JERRY - a large man. The two-dimensional computer model has evolved into a three-dimensional solid modeling program.
The computer models help automakers both design better seats and evaluate current ones.
(over) Hubbard and his research team also have invented special chairs that measure how a seat supports the body and devised ways to measure the contour between the person and the seat.
"People judge a car by the seats," Hubbard said. "Comfort is one of the most important characteristics. Well-being is important too - and lots of people with back problems find that sitting a long time can aggravate that, especially if they're slouching. We believe posture is related to well being."
Eleven automotive companies are supporting the research through The Society of Automotive Engineers. In addition, Automotive Systems Group of Johnson Group of Johnson Controls, Inc. - from where JOHN's name comes. The University of Michigan joins MSU in the research project.
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[Note: For more detail on the MSU research, the document "Progress with Human Factors in Automotive Design: Seating Comfort, Visibility and Safety" is available from Media Communications.]
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