LifeMOD and Caterpillar: Ride Comfort in a Vibration Environment
Client:
Caterpillar, Inc.
Business:
Maker of construction equipment.
Challenge:
Caterpillar has used simulation in the development of large earth-moving equipment for many years. In their business, the operator’s experience while in the driver’s seat is more than a matter of comfort; poor designs can result in chronic and even acute injuries. The challenge for Caterpillar was to understand and quantify ride comfort. However, testing using human subjects with physical prototypes would be time-consuming and expensive, and prone to inconsistent results because of issues such as operator fatigue, weather, and measurement errors.
Solution:
LifeMOD™ provided Caterpillar the opportunity to develop ride comfort metrics free from uncontrolled variability. The lab at The University of Iowa for Whole Body Vibration (PI: Dr. Salam Rahmatalla) recreates vehicle motion with a live operator’s motion. First, the operator’s motion is recorded by a 3D motion capture system. LifeMOD then uses this information to create a repeatable simulation environment for ride comfort and injury assessment. This environment allowed Caterpillar to rapidly evaluate design changes.
Value:
LifeMOD simulations helped Caterpillar identify what portions of an operator’s movements signify ride comfort. Detailed analysis of the results identified key ride comfort sensitivities in the human model. For example, the contrast between whole body motion and segment motion, such as the head and torso, is an indicator of comfort and the possibility of injury. How the operator actively shields his or her head from movement is a key factor. This shielding effort will be the focus of additional research with LifeMOD at Caterpillar.
By adding the human element into their simulation processes, Caterpillar is on the path to developing safer and more easily controlled earth-moving equipment.
Read the full newsletter story.
By adding the human element into their simulation processes, Caterpillar is on the path to developing safer and more easily controlled earth-moving equipment.
Read the full newsletter story.