The development of an objective methodology for the evaluation of drivers’ field of view

This paper presents research into driver vision and methods to quantify the field of view afforded a driver through a combination of direct vision (through windows) and indirect vision (through mirrors). Focusing primarily on Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs) a 3D projection technique has been developed to allow the field of view to be projected to form a visible volume of space representing what can be seen by the driver. This projection technique has previously been used in a qualitative manner to assess the presence of blind spots in proximity to LGVs and the degree to which other road users may be visible to the driver. To supplement this qualitative assessment a new quantitative, objective measure of field of view has been developed and implemented in the digital human modelling system SAMMIE. The objective measure involves the projection of the field of view afforded from a window aperture or via a mirror onto the surface of a sphere centered at the driver’s eye point. The area of the resulting spherical polygon is calculated to provide an assessment of field of view that allows comparison between different vehicle configurations

Drawing: an ambiguous practice

Is a lack of a definition, a position of ambiguity, desirable in response to the question: what is drawing? This paper presents a view taken from two traditionally distinct fields: art and design; design and technology. This view is formed through the research collaboration and co-editorship of TRACEY: the journal of contemporary drawing, and the pedagogical development of a Masters programme in visualisation by the authors. This view is that a lack of definition is not only desirable, it is also a necessity. Our position is that the ambiguity that inevitably stems from a lack of definition forms a strategy that enables and sustains drawing research. Our collaborative experience is that drawing research is framed by assumptions that are embedded within art and design; design and technology. Historically, these fields have developed particular views about what drawing is, or what drawing is not. This paper will attempt to break down these assumptions from the place and space that evolves through the authors’ ongoing experience of collaboration. From this place and space we will argue that there are a number of art / design categories of practice and research that ultimately describe something that is bounded (area / volume). These overlap, intersect, and perhaps like some long standing boundary war, vie for ownership of each other’s domains. Drawing could be seen as one of these domains. However, we will argue that drawing is unbounded, that there is no ‘expanded field’, and that drawing’s ubiquity necessitates a lack of definition, a position of ambiguity. A boundary can change over time for many reasons: a diverted water course, or a wooden fence that moves slightly every time it is replaced. The reason for such changes is rarely recorded and can lead to disputes (RICS, 2009)

Toward [hyper] drawing… through ambiguity

This article explores ambiguity in contemporary fine art drawing through the presentation of a proposal and subsequent response. Drawing within three figurations: Empson’s seven types of ambiguity in literary prose (first published in 1930), the logical fallacies of ambiguity, and grammatical prepositions (e.g. between, beyond, beside etc.) the article aims to investigate the opportunities that arise if we are ambivalent to, subvert, or challenge definitions of drawing. The article critiques the origins of hyperdrawing tracing from a point of retrieval, where a conceptual and practical view ‘point’ is set into motion (Hill 1966: 44) beginning with a revisiting of the author’s previous research into this hyper view (Sawdon and Marshall, 2009). This trace moves through the three figurations: mapping the seven ambiguities, overlaid and interwoven with five fallacies, drawing emergent prepositions, in advancing logical disorder. An example drawn response, titled Seventh (from a series of drawings titled First through to Seventh), is selectively unwoven in the context of the figurations. The article discusses the opportunities highlighted through this response, returning to the proposal that a position of ambiguity (a lack of definition) is desirable and presents a fallacious definition. Ultimately (drawing) ambiguity is left unresolved, however its opportunities are explored through an examination of the boundary between literary criticism and drawin

A systems engineering approach to product modularity

Product modularity has been successfully adopted in a number of specific industries, such as computer technology and software development where it provides a number of advantages over monolithic product architectures. This paper presents initial findings from research at a range of companies within the UK where modularity is being applied or considered to address increasing product complexity and the growing need for the symbiosis of mechanical, electrical, electronic, optical, and software technologies in a wider range of manufactured products to meet discerning market requirements. The research identifies a need to address the current application of modularity within industry at three levels; a systems engineering based framework; a methodology for product modularisation; and the underlying process of modular product development. Concluding remarks highlight the issues drawn from the research and opportunities for addressing these issues

Understanding direct and indirect driver vision in heavy goods vehicles - Summary Report

The research described in this report has been performed by Loughborough Design School (LDS) under the CLOCS programme funded by TfL. The project was specified to allow an understanding of the variability of blind spots in direct vision through windows and indirect vision through mirrors for the top selling HGVs in the UK. The impetus for the research was the increasing number of accidents between Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and HGVs in London. The aim was to compare the manufacturers’ most sold vehicle specifications to determine which vehicle design variables can affect the size of blind spots, and to explore issues that have been raised in previous research including the potential for construction HGVs to be involved in more accidents with VRUs than distribution variants of HGV designs. The LDS team have utilised a virtual modelling technique to explore this issue. This virtual approach allows multiple accident scenarios to be modelled and simulated. In order to allow the analysis of vehicle blind spots 19 vehicle models have been created by digitally scanning the real world vehicles. The vehicles that have been modelled include construction, distribution and long haul HGV designs, as well as ‘high vision’ low entry cab designs. These models have been used in combination with simulations of cyclist and pedestrian VRUs in a manner which recreates critical accident scenarios that have been defined through the analysis of accident data. This involves placing the simulated VRUs in a number of defined locations adjacent to the vehicle. Subsequently the simulated VRUs are moved away from the vehicle into a position where they ‘just can’t be seen’ by the driver of the vehicle, i.e. if they were moved further away they would be partially visible to the driver. The distance that the VRU simulation is away from the side or front of the vehicle cab determines the size of the direct vision blind spot. In this way vehicle designs and configurations can be compared. In addition to this further testing was performed to determine if the VRUs located in the direct vision blind spots could be viewed by the driver through the use of mirrors. The final analysis technique utilised a method which projects the volume of space that can be seen by a driver through the windows and mirrors on the surface of sphere. This provides a field of view value which can be used to compare the glazed area of HGVs and provides a method to distinguish between vehicles that perform at the same level in the VRU simulation. The results of the work highlight the follow key issues. 1. All standard vehicle configurations have blind spots which can hide VRUs from the driver’s direct vision 2. The height of the cab above the ground is the key vehicle factor which affects the size of direct vision and indirect vision blind spots 3. The design of window apertures and the driver location in relation to these window apertures can reduce the size of the identified blind spots. i.e. two different vehicle designs with the same cab height can have different results for blind spot size due to window design and driver seat location 4. Low entry cab designs, which are the lowest of the 19 vehicles tested, demonstrated real benefits in terms of reducing direct vision blind spots when compared to standard vehicle designs 5. The construction vehicles assessed in the project are on average 32% higher than the same cab design in the distribution configuration 6. For construction vehicles the distance away that a pedestrian in front of the vehicle can be hidden from the driver’s view is on average nearly three times greater than the distribution vehicles 7. For the construction vehicles the distance away that a cyclist to the passenger side of the vehicle can be hidden is on average more than two times greater than the distribution vehicles 8. The work has highlighted the need for a new standard which defines what should be visible through direct vision from the vehicle. Such a standard does not currently exist, and is seen as a key mechanism for improving future vehicle designs

3D measurement of children and implications for industry

Shape GB is the first phase of a major national research project to measure children, seven years since the last DTI funded National Sizing Survey measured men and women as part of Size UK. This phase of the research is funded by major clothing retailers including Next, Monsoon, George at ASDA, Shop Direct, and supported by the University of Hertfordshire, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Hull and Loughborough University. The research was coordinated and managed by Select Research, specialists in in this type of large scale data collection. A key element of the research approach is the use of 3D body scanning technology to successfully capture the data in place of more traditional methods, measuring over 2,500 boys and girls aged 4-17. It is the first large scale survey for the retail clothing industry on children since 1978

An objective methodology for blind spot analysis of HGVs using a DHM approach

This paper presents research into the quantification and evaluation of driver's field of view (FOV) from Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). The research explores the nature of any blind spots to drivers' vision resulting from the vehicle design and configuration. The paper is the first of two submitted to ICED17. This paper focuses upon the methodology for the quantification of blindspots and the second paper presents the results and outlines the need for a direct vision standard (Summerskill and Marshall, 2017). The research builds upon previous work by the authors exploiting a volumetric projection technique that allows the FOV to be visualised in order to quantify the magnitude of any blind spots. The approach also provides a means to compare vehicle designs and scenarios involving the vehicle and other road users. Using this volumetric approach, the research determined the size and location of any bind spots around 19 HGVs. The sample consisted of the most sold vehicles in the year up to 2014 from major manufacturers. This paper describes the methodology employed for the evaluation of the HGV blind spots aimed at providing an objective approach to the evaluation of drivers' FOV

Realistic elbow flesh deformation based on anthropometrical data for ergonomics modeling

The human model for ergonomic simulation has improved in terms of its reliability and appearance and yet there seems to be less attention paid to create a realistic and accurate flesh deformation around the joint. This study, a part of ongoing research, proposes a combination of manual and automatic (3D body scanner) measurements to create a database for flesh deformation prediction i.e. flesh deformation area and cross section changes, around the elbow joint. The database consists of two race groups i.e., Caucasian and Asian (23 subjects, 11 males and 12 females), which were carefully chosen to represent a variety of height and body type. The prediction results for both flesh deformation area and cross section changes are discussed as well as their relevance for the next stage of the study

Defining the requirement for a direct vision standard for trucks using a DHM based blind spot analysis

The aim of the study was to understand the nature of blindspots in the vision of drivers of trucks caused by vehicle design variables such as cab design. The paper is the second of two submitted to ICED17. This paper focuses upon the results for the quantification of blindspots and the first paper presents the methodology (Marshall & Summerskill, 2017). In order to establish the cause and nature of blind spots 19 top selling trucks were scanned and imported into the SAMMIE DHM system. A CAD based vision projection technique allowed multiple mirror and window aperture projections to be created. By determining where simulated VRUs could be positioned without being visible in the direct vision of a driver, the vehicles were compared. By comparing the drivers eye height and the obscuration distance of VRUs a correlation was identified. By exploring the design features of outliers in this correlation, it was determined that direct vision blind spots are affected by various design variables. This led to the definition of a requirement for a direct vision standard for trucks, with a standard now being defined by the authors in a project funded by Transport for London

A case study analysis of the application of design for manufacture principles by industrial design students

This paper describes a case study evaluation of a module that engages students on product and industrial design programmes with the principles of Design for Manufacturing (DFM). The primary element of the module is to expose students to the constraints of a full design to manufacture process. The module explores the design of a small polymer promotional item, together with the means of mass producing that item. This is done through the process of injection moulding and students design an injection mould tool to allow the production of the promotional item out of a suitable polymer. This module brings together CAD, CNC part programming, injection moulding tooling design, polymeric material selection and production considerations. The paper will highlight the benefits of practical engagement with the DFM process