Engineering movement into automotive seating: Does the driver feel more comfortable and refreshed?

Area of Science:

• Automotive Ergonomics
• Human Factors Engineering
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Prolonged driving often leads to discomfort and fatigue.
• Current automotive seating designs may not adequately address driver wellbeing over extended periods.
• Investigating dynamic seating solutions is crucial for enhancing the driving experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of passive automotive seat movement on driver discomfort and wellbeing.
• To compare the effects of fore-aft and cushion-backrest movement against a static control condition.
• To analyze driver posture and Seat Fidgets and Movements (SFMs) in response to dynamic seating.

Main Methods:

• A within-subjects study involving 10 participants undertaking a 60-minute simulated drive.
• Three seat conditions were tested: control (no movement), fore-aft movement, and cushion-backrest movement.
• Data collected included discomfort ratings (six body areas, overall), wellbeing questionnaires, driver posture, and SFMs.

Main Results:

• A trend towards reduced discomfort in the neck, shoulders, lower back, buttocks, and ankles was observed with both movement conditions.
• Significantly less buttock discomfort was reported at 60 minutes with seat movement.
• Wellbeing ratings improved with seat movement, though overall discomfort and SFMs increased over time.

Conclusions:

• Passive automotive seat movement, specifically fore-aft and cushion-backrest, shows promise in mitigating driver discomfort and enhancing wellbeing.
• Dynamic seating appears to be well-received by drivers, suggesting potential for integration into future vehicle designs.
• Further research may explore optimal movement parameters to balance comfort and minimize SFMs during long drives.