How do people move in a vehicle?

We are always on the move, no matter where we are – but our freedom of movement is severely restricted in narrow spaces, such as in a vehicle. This is why the interior design of a vehicle should be matched to our usual movement sequences. It must also address ergonomic requirements – and that is particularly important when it comes to safety-related movements that require a rapid and undisturbed reaction.

The necessary movement studies for protecting ergonomics are being physically completed at the time of writing. To date, these tests have been carried out using complex models of the cabin with test persons, but procedures like this are both time-consuming and cost-intensive – so a digital solution has to be found. Human Solutions aims to achieve this with the DELFIN research project (Dynamic Evaluation of Vehicle Passengers), which will expand the functionality of the company’s RAMSIS digital manikin, enabling it to perform dynamic analyses.

The Advanced Realtime Tracking Company is also involved in the DELFIN research project, during which it will continue to develop its existing motion capture systems to combine comfort, minimize rework and deliver maximum precision, eventually offering the ergonomics market a trailblazing level of motion capture quality. The Institute of Mechatronics at Chemnitz University of Technology will also use this system to collect necessary movement data, which will be used in turn by the Chair of Ergonomics at the Munich University of Technology to create the relevant evaluation models.

The ultimate aim of the project is to implement a technology for predicting and evaluating the movements of vehicle occupants into the digital manikin RAMSIS. Using a library of measured movements, RAMSIS users will then be able to automatically calculate vehicle occupants’ movements and interactively manipulate and assemble them.

This technology will be used in the development of cars, trucks, airplanes and agricultural & construction machinery, then validated in various truck & car applications during the project.

The joint project DELFIN is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the “KMU-innovativ” program. Launched on May 1, 2019, it will run until April 30, 2022.