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The future of automotive vehicle interiors is becoming more complex each year. Extensive consumer research demonstrates that consumers want new convenience features. However, increased electronics and communications content could potentially pose unwanted distractions to the driver. This study examined objective variations in driver performance while tasked with operating a variety of interior feature controls. Data from thirty-one test participants were used in the evaluation of three control interface alternatives. Objective driving simulator measurements included vehicle velocity, steering wheel angle, and vehicle position within the driving lane. Session video and subjective responses were also recorded. Examples of data analysis and interesting findings will be discussed.

Occupied seat vibration transfer functions can be used to gauge the ability of a seat system to isolate an occupant from annoying road vibrations. Automotive interior suppliers measure occupied seat vibration transfer functions (transfer functions with a person in the seat) to determine how seat system designs will affect ride comfort. The wide range of physiological dynamic properties among potential test occupants often contributes to a wide range of transfer function measurements for any seat system. This paper evaluates the performance of two approaches to reduce transfer function measurement variation due to multiple test occupants. Reduction of measurement variation can lead to tighter statistical confidence bands for measurements taken with a given number of test occupants. Alternatively, it can lead to a reduction in the number of test occupants required for measurements to fall within a given confidence band.