Design of steering wheel characteristics based on human arm mechanical properties

Human arm operation in driving motion can be classified into the two categories of steering wheel and gear stick manipulation. In this study, the operational characteristics of a human-steering system were experimentally analyzed in consideration of the mechanical properties of the human arm and related effects on muscle activity. The results highlighted three points in particular: (1) positioning to facilitate operation as well as the operational direction of the steering column angle and fore-and-aft positions can be determined on the basis of force manipulability in consideration of human joint-torque characteristics; (2) subjects feel that handling is easier when arm muscle activity is low during steering wheel operation; and (3) arm positioning and body pressure distribution have a very significant effect on arm muscle loads. Comprehensive consideration of these results is expected to be useful in the design of human-vehicle steering wheel systems.