Trans RINA, Vol 153, Part C1, Intl J Marine Design, Jul - Dec 2011


TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER - ENHANCING MARINE ERGONOMICS WITH AUTOMOTIVE DIGITAL HUMAN MODELS


T Dobbins, STResearch, UK T Thompson, Coventry University, UK (DOI No: 10.3940/rina.ijmd.2011.c1.4)


SUMMARY


In numerous ways automobiles and boats share many ergonomic features and similarities, e.g. the driver and coxswain may sit in a seat and steer the vehicle using a wheel. The dynamic motion of the boat, and the different operational scenarios, mean that effective ergonomic solutions are more complex than for the typical car driver. The boat requires effective occupant postural stability as well as easy ingress and egress. The automotive sector has produced ergonomic design tools, e.g. RAMSIS CAD software - a Digital Human Model, to support the development of good ergonomic features. Therefore the potential exists to transfer this automotive technology to the marine sector to support the development of effective ergonomic solutions for the complex marine environment. An evaluation of the RAMSIS tool demonstrated that for the marine sector it is effective in conditions similar to those found in typical automotive conditions. But, for the more extreme marine environments, where the crew is required to use protective clothing and equipment, and use marine specific seating/postural support, the limitations of RAMSIS need to be addressed. It is recognised that DHMs are an effective tool for designing effective marine ergonomic solutions but further work is needed to address the specific requirements of the marine environment and its requirements.


1. INTRODUCTION


It is recognised that Human Systems Integration (HSI) is an integral component of the marine system engineering design process. Within HSI, Human Factor Engineering (HFE) is the discipline that addresses the ergonomic aspects of the platform.


Unfortunately HFE and


ergonomics have, in general, been poorly addressed within marine systems and particularly smaller craft including boats, although this area has started to be addressed and guidance/support [1,2,3,4]. Boats may


be viewed as


resources developed analogues to


automotive vehicles, as the operator (e.g. coxswain and navigator) are confined to a single position due to the need to maintain their postural stability when exposed to the harsh shock and vibration environment typical of small fast-craft travel through automotive design tools,


and


waves. Therefore particularly


those


specifically for ergonomic features, may assist in enhancing the design and safety of marine craft.


As part of the European Boat Design Innovation Group (EBDIG; www.ebdig.eu),


Figure 1: An example of the RAMSIS Digital Human Model (DHM) used for assessing automotive ergonomics


an EU Leonardo funded


project, an evaluation was made of the potential for automotive Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools to support the marine sector.


2.


TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER; AUTOMOTIVE TO MARINE


There are a number of human representations that have been developed to assist CAD operators in optimising the human-machine-interface (HMI). An example that has been developed specifically for the automotive and transport sector


is RAMSIS (www.human- solutions.com), see Figure 1. The EBDIG Partners have ©2011: The Royal Institution of Naval Architects 3. It has been


DIGITAL HUMAN MODELS recognised


by


community that CAD has provided the ability to develop better design solutions prototypes.


prior to the manufacture


the engineering design of


Current CAD systems (e.g. CATIA and


Solidworks [Dassault Systemes], Rhino [McNeel North America], Alias [Autodesk]) all provide the ability to assess an objects capability in great detail prior to the production of a physical object. Humans, being both objective and importantly subjective, can identify that the 3D representation of an object on a screen may look fit- for-purpose, but it is not until it can be physically


C-35


undertaken an assessment of the ability of RAMSIS to support both the design and evaluation of the ergonomic features of marine craft, specifically its application to boat cockpit/console design.


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