A Novel Approach for Integrating Virtual Reality in the Ergonomic Testing of Automotive Interior Designs

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">This research aimed to explore the integration of Virtual reality technology in ergonomically testing automotive interior designs. This objective was aimed at ensuring that such technology could be used to ameliorate user comfort through controlled simulations. Existing ergonomic testing methods are often limited when it comes to recreating actual driving situations and quickly repeating design improvements. VR could be used as a solution because its ergonomically tested simulation can be used to provide users with the real experience of driving. The users can be observed while they experience it and asked for their feedback. For this research, an interactive VR environment imitating a 10-minute-long trip through traffic and changing road conditions was created. It was populated by ten users, concatenated equally in men and women, both aged 20-35, representing approximate demographics of workers in the automotive production industry. Participants of the research were asked to use assessed metrics, which included subjective comfort rating, control reachability, visibility rating and overall user experience within the VR simulation. The VR environment was overall well-received by the demands of this research. Its uses found it comfortable and easy to use, with average metrics of 7.5, 8.0, and 7.5, respectively for comfort, controls, and visibility. The overall user experience averaged at 7.8. The information obtained through this research proves that VR environments can be used effectively to simulate the interior of cars and ameliorate the ergonomics of their designs. This could potentially be a revolutionary technology, accelerating automotive development by the early detection of design mistakes and facilitating iterative improvements with subsequent iterations.</div></div>