Anders Sundin

A Swedish Industrial Research Program “Co-operative for Optimization of Industrial Production Systems Regarding Productivity and Ergonomics, COPE"

This publication was written during a period of time when we were engaged in an extensive research programme financed by the National Institute for Working Life in Solna (Cooperative for Optimisation of industrial production systems regarding Productivity and Ergonomics COPE).

ANNIE, a tool for integrating ergonomics in the design of car interiors

In this ANNIE project – Applications of Neural Networks to Integrated Ergonomics – BE96-3433, a tool for integrating ergonomics into the design process is developed. This paper presents some features in the current ANNIE as applied to the design of car interiors. A variant of the ERGOMan mannequin with vision is controlled by a hybrid system for neuro-fuzzy simulation. It is trained by using an Elite system for registration of movements. An example of a trajectory generated by the system is shown. A fuzzy model is used for comfort evaluation. An experiment was performed to test its feasibility and it showed very promising results.

Methodological Differences Using a Computer Manikin in Two Case Studies: Bus and Space Module Design

The computer manikin software Jack™ was used in two different case studies analyzing ergonomics. A comparison was made on how Jack was used in the two case studies. In the first, Jack was used in the design phase of a new Volvo bus model. A group was formed to work with a special part of the bus chassis design, namely cables and tubes. The group aimed to create an ergonomically correct and efficient assembly production. The group consisted of designers, production engineers and researchers. Jack was used late in this process for analysis of assembly work situations resulting from the design. In the second case study, an analysis was carried out in the preliminary design phase of the Cupola, a European Space Agency (ESA) module for manned space flights for the International Space Station (ISS). In this study, Jack was used early in the design process before any flight hardware production. When comparing the two studies, differences were found regarding the approach of the mimics of zero-gravity activities relative shop floor assembly work, and also of the modeling of Jack body postures. Animations were found more useful in the zero-gravity environment. Beside the treatment of co-ordinate systems, the process of file transfer was almost identical. In both case studies benefits of the use of Jack analysis, and resulting design impact according to this, seem to be equal despite when the analysis were carried out in the design process.

Proactive Human Factors Engineering Analysis in Space Station Design Using the Computer Manikin Jack

In this case study, a human factors analysis was carried out in the preliminary design phase of the Cupola, a European Space Agency (ESA) module for manned space flights for the International Space Station (ISS). The manikin software Jack® was used early in the design process before any flight hardware production. All Cupola astronaut tasks were evaluated in a virtual environment of the Cupola. Methodological aspects concerning the analysis are described, e.g. file processing, use of coordinate systems and the use of a prior task analysis. Results show that the thorough manikin analysis supported with the hierarchical task analysis results, was an important help in the design process.

Prerequisites for Extensive Computer Manikin Analysis – An Example with Hierarchical Task Analysis, File Exchange Protocol and a Relational Database

In this case study, a human factors engineering (HFE) analysis was carried out in the preliminary design phase of the Cupola. Cupola is a European Space Agency (ESA) module for manned space flights for the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a Barter Arrangement between ESA and the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Manikin software was used early in the design process before the production of any flight hardware. The manikin analysis was supported by the use of hierarchical task analysis, a file exchange protocol and a relational database. This paper describes methodological aspects of the use of the supporting methods. Results show that hierarchical task analysis, a file exchange protocol and a relational database are prerequisites for successful extensive manikin analysis.

Evaluation of Human Computer Interface (HCI): Annie, a Case Study

The increased use of computers has precipitated many improvements to computer sofhvare. However ergonomic evaluation tools used by experts, such as 3-D manikin software, have not enough benefited from this development. Their use is still characterized by a long learning process of memorising functions. From a HCI perspective, the focus of usability is related to those properties. In order to evaluate a system, characteristics of the interface, the tasks, the end-users and the interaction is taken into account. In the ANNIE (Application of Neural Network to Integrated Ergonomics) sofhvare a neural network (NN) controls the manikin’s motions. The NN is learned by collected human movement data. Potential users of this ergonomic tool have different background and computer skills. In ANNIE a demonstrator has been implemented in the ERGOPLAN sofhvare.