Post on 11-Sep-2014
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Human-Motorcycle Interaction (HMI):Issues and research in motorcycle
ergonomics and rider human factors
Dr Alex W Stedmon
alex.stedmon@nottingham.ac.uk
Centre for Motorcycle Ergonomics & Rider Human FactorsDept of Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering (M3)
University of Nottingham
MotorcycleErgonomics
& Rider Human Factors
EngineeringProductDesign
Psychology
Setting the scene at Nottingham
One size does NOT fit all!
Riders getting bigger – bikes getting smaller!
• Rider anthropometry – ‘larger’ and taller• 25-54 years = 4.1kg (Dept of Health, 1993)
• motorcyclists tend to be 25mm taller than average
• kit manufacturers report on the size increases too
• Motorbikes product design – smaller, taller and lighter• slimmed down by 20mm
• ride height increased 55mm since the 80s (styling)
• 1993-2003 bikes have lost around 10-15kg
• Sportsbikes are alienating large riders by being lighter andsmall riders by being larger
The type of bike dictates who rides it!
• Fitting the person to the task or fitting the task to theperson• why are we still fitting the rider to the bike?
• bad ergonomics!
• Rider perception is important• Do they feel too small/big for their bike?
• “I looked like an elephant on a bicycle”
• Larger riders – tourers, giant trailies
• Medium riders – tourers, sports tourers, all trailies, street bikes
• Smaller riders – sports bikes, street bikes small trailies
Seeing your elbows – the impact on safety
• Typical complaints• wrist ache• neck ache• can’t see in mirrors• can’t see the road ahead!
• Comfortable riding position depends on• type of riding being done• style of motorbike• shape of the rider
• Is adjustability the way forward?• manufacturers just catching onto the idea!• otherwise it’s after-market kit
Motorcycling as an interactive system
Rider MotorcycleInteractive System
Rider
Bike Environment
Control inputs Rider perception
Sensoryfeedback
Wind & roadsurface reactions
Sensoryfeedback
Motion forceson road and air
handlebars
brakes
gears
footrests
seat
hearingfeeling
body
sight
smell
headlight bodywork
indicatorsbrakelights
tyres
• McInally (2003)
How hard can it be?
• Cognitive issues• workload – traffic conditions, filtering, junctions• situation awareness – traffic lights, junctions• conspicuousness & vigilance – if the bike stops we come off• rider fatigue – mental & physical effort• risk taking behaviour – when/why do riders take chances?
• Environmental issues• road surface – we’re always looking at it• we don’t have sun visors!• weather – tyre warm-up, tyre contact• temperature – physical and cognitive issues
The future of motorcycling
• Advanced systems• helmet mounted displays (augmented reality?)• 3D audio• speech input• integration of rider aids
• satnav systems• rider information/communication systems• entertainment systems
• geo-spatial information for riders• location based services• couriers, paramedics, police
Rear view helmet systems
• Rider issues• Do riders need forward and rear vision all the time?
• What about blind-spots
• Are we increasing workload and affecting situation awareness withthis extra information?
The ‘Long Way Up!’
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The ‘Long Way Up!’ challenge
• Lands End to John O’Groats
• 3 highest mountains in England, Scotland & Wales
• Furthest points NESW on the UK mainland
• Lowest altitude and centre point of UK
• 2,800 miles in 6 riding days• 466 miles/day (min = 10 miles, max = 650 miles)
• £6,100 raised for charity• CancerResearchUK & The Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust
Our sponsors
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NASA-TLX workload ratings
Body part discomfort ratings
3-way comparison
Motorcycle simulator
Keeping it real or faking it?
Leading the way in motorcycle ergonomics
• Motorcycle simulator• interactive bike and projection screen
• reconfigurable scenarios
• a UK first• no other research simulator of its kind
• a World first• no other motorcycle simulator is using the same
software
Triumph Daytona
MotorcycleSim
MotorcycleSim
Thank You!
Dr Alex W Stedmon
alex.stedmon@nottingham.ac.uk