Dynamic motion analysis when getting in and out of the second row of a vehicle

3rd International Symposium on digital human modelling, TOKYO, JAPON, 20-/05/2014 - 22/05/2014The 2nd row ingress and egress motions were analyzed from the data collected by FORD R&A for a better understanding of perceived discomfort. Fourteen females and males participated in the experiment for testing seven different 2nd row configurations. A detailed description of motion sequences and contacts between participant and vehicle was provided. The effects of participant group (three groups by stature and two by BMI) and test configuration (seven configurations) on discomfort, maximum joint torques developed at the lower limbs were analyzed. Our findings support the general requirement that the occupants should be able to enter and exit from the vehicle quickly and comfortably without any awkward postures, high physical efforts and hitting of body parts on the vehicle components. Particular attention should be paid to the seat height to ground so that it is not too high for short occupants and too low for tall occupants to avoid high physical efforts when sitting down and standing up. The longitudinal distance of the frontal seat back to the seat is also a critical parameter. It should be long enough to avoid knee collision especially for tall occupants