Human-Motorcycle Interaction (HMI): Research issues in motorcycle ergonomics and rider human factors...

Human-Motorcycle Interaction (HMI):Issues and research in motorcycle

ergonomics and rider human factors

Dr Alex W Stedmon

alex.stedmon@nottingham.ac.uk

Centre for Motorcycle Ergonomics & Rider Human FactorsDept of Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering (M3)

University of Nottingham

MotorcycleErgonomics

& Rider Human Factors

EngineeringProductDesign

Psychology

Setting the scene at Nottingham

One size does NOT fit all!

Riders getting bigger – bikes getting smaller!

• Rider anthropometry – ‘larger’ and taller• 25-54 years = 4.1kg (Dept of Health, 1993)

• motorcyclists tend to be 25mm taller than average

• kit manufacturers report on the size increases too

• Motorbikes product design – smaller, taller and lighter• slimmed down by 20mm

• ride height increased 55mm since the 80s (styling)

• 1993-2003 bikes have lost around 10-15kg

• Sportsbikes are alienating large riders by being lighter andsmall riders by being larger

The type of bike dictates who rides it!

• Fitting the person to the task or fitting the task to theperson• why are we still fitting the rider to the bike?

• bad ergonomics!

• Rider perception is important• Do they feel too small/big for their bike?

• “I looked like an elephant on a bicycle”

• Larger riders – tourers, giant trailies

• Medium riders – tourers, sports tourers, all trailies, street bikes

• Smaller riders – sports bikes, street bikes small trailies

Seeing your elbows – the impact on safety

• Typical complaints• wrist ache• neck ache• can’t see in mirrors• can’t see the road ahead!

• Comfortable riding position depends on• type of riding being done• style of motorbike• shape of the rider

• Is adjustability the way forward?• manufacturers just catching onto the idea!• otherwise it’s after-market kit

Motorcycling as an interactive system

Rider MotorcycleInteractive System

Rider

Bike Environment

Control inputs Rider perception

Sensoryfeedback

Wind & roadsurface reactions

Sensoryfeedback

Motion forceson road and air

handlebars

brakes

gears

footrests

seat

hearingfeeling

body

sight

smell

headlight bodywork

indicatorsbrakelights

tyres

• McInally (2003)

How hard can it be?

• Cognitive issues• workload – traffic conditions, filtering, junctions• situation awareness – traffic lights, junctions• conspicuousness & vigilance – if the bike stops we come off• rider fatigue – mental & physical effort• risk taking behaviour – when/why do riders take chances?

• Environmental issues• road surface – we’re always looking at it• we don’t have sun visors!• weather – tyre warm-up, tyre contact• temperature – physical and cognitive issues

The future of motorcycling

• Advanced systems• helmet mounted displays (augmented reality?)• 3D audio• speech input• integration of rider aids

• satnav systems• rider information/communication systems• entertainment systems

• geo-spatial information for riders• location based services• couriers, paramedics, police

Rear view helmet systems

• Rider issues• Do riders need forward and rear vision all the time?

• What about blind-spots

• Are we increasing workload and affecting situation awareness withthis extra information?

The ‘Long Way Up!’

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The ‘Long Way Up!’ challenge

• Lands End to John O’Groats

• 3 highest mountains in England, Scotland & Wales

• Furthest points NESW on the UK mainland

• Lowest altitude and centre point of UK

• 2,800 miles in 6 riding days• 466 miles/day (min = 10 miles, max = 650 miles)

• £6,100 raised for charity• CancerResearchUK & The Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust

Our sponsors

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NASA-TLX workload ratings

Body part discomfort ratings

3-way comparison

Motorcycle simulator

Keeping it real or faking it?

Leading the way in motorcycle ergonomics

• Motorcycle simulator• interactive bike and projection screen

• reconfigurable scenarios

• a UK first• no other research simulator of its kind

• a World first• no other motorcycle simulator is using the same

software

Triumph Daytona

MotorcycleSim

MotorcycleSim

Thank You!

Dr Alex W Stedmon

alex.stedmon@nottingham.ac.uk