Citation

Domey RG, Paterson D. Highw. Res. Board bull. 1962; 330: 92-100.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1962, National Research Council (U.S.A.), Highway Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A summary description is given of the mechanical, electro-mechanical, tracking and data-computation features of a simulator developed for evaluating driver performance. The fundamental design criteria for the simulator are: (1) dimensional duplication of vehicle cab interiors, and (2) adequate adjust-ability range to insure operator comfort. A survey of the human engineering man-machine control system literature led to the adoption of a central, continuous tracking task requiring steering wheel manipulation. Evaluation of operator performance requires the measurement of: (1) displacement velocity and torque applied to the steering wheel, (2) forces applied to the brake and clutch pedals, and (3) response time to complete manipulative tasks. Measurements are made with various electro-mechanical transducers. Standard statistical techniques are used to compare driver performance among individual subjects and between control and experimental groups under equivalent task complexity. Digital computers are used for the mathematical analyses. This simulator may be considered a general human operator control laboratory. With minor modifications the apparatus can be made to accomodate a wide variety of technical human factors research problems. Studies need not be limited to vehicular control research, but may be designed to encompass a large area of the psychomotor and biomechanical behavior of the human operator.