EMG Validation of Kansei Engineering Study on Car Seat Lever-grip Position

Kikumoto et al., 2021 investigated the impact of car seat lever-grip positions on Kansei evaluation ratings, specifically “Can be manipulated with one hand,” and found notable gender differences. Females preferred a narrower range of lever-grip positions compared to males, though their preferences overlapped. This study explored the use of electromyography (EMG) to explain Kansei rating differences related to lever-grip position and gender. EMG was measured from four muscles. Random forest regression identified that the EMG integral (iEMG) was able to predict Kansei ratings with gender-specific patterns. Multilevel modeling showed that lever-grip position, but not participant body-height, had a significant impact on iEMG, with low-Kansei-rated lever-grip positions corresponding to higher muscle loads. The findings suggest that iEMG are a valuable predictor for designing car seat levers, particularly under strict design constraints, offering insights for more ergonomically sound and Kansei-oriented vehicle design.