Verification of Reduction Effect of the Driver Fatigue Increase on Long Time Driving with an Air Cell Lumbar Support Device with a Hip Auxiliary Mechanism

Yamada, Jun; Komura, Itaru; Hayakawa, Soichiro; Ikeura, Ryojun; Sawai, Hideki; Hayakawa, Tomonori · 2016 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1299/jsmermd.2016.1a2-12b7

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Summary

This study addresses the problem of driver fatigue accumulation during long-duration driving, a factor contributing to traffic accidents. While previous research demonstrated that periodic posture changes induced by lumbar support systems can reduce fatigue, these systems often cause the driver’s hips to slide forward, weakening lumbar support and diminishing effectiveness. To resolve this, the authors propose an air cell lumbar support device equipped with a hip auxiliary mechanism. This system utilizes air cells placed on both the seat back and the seat surface to prevent hip displacement, thereby maintaining consistent lumbar support and promoting effective posture changes. The experimental design utilized a driving simulator with three male subjects in their early twenties. Each subject underwent three experimental patterns, repeated ten times each, over a 90-minute driving session: (1) no support system, (2) a standard lumbar support system activated every 15 minutes, and (3) the proposed air cell system with hip auxiliary mechanism activated every 15 minutes. Driver fatigue was objectively measured using fingertip photoplethysmography (PPG), which detects blood volume pulse waves via light absorption characteristics of hemoglobin. Additionally, seat surface pressure sensors recorded hip center-of-gravity variations to assess hip displacement. Support strengths for both the lumbar and air cell mechanisms were customized for each subject based on preliminary comfort assessments. The results indicated that both the standard lumbar support and the proposed system significantly reduced fatigue compared to the no-support condition, with statistical significance at the 1% level for all subjects. Comparing the two support systems, the proposed air cell device showed superior fatigue reduction for two of the three subjects (significant at the 5% and 1% levels, respectively). For the third subject, there was no significant difference between the two systems. Analysis of hip displacement revealed that this third subject exhibited minimal hip movement even with the standard lumbar support, explaining the lack of additional benefit from the hip auxiliary mechanism. In contrast, subjects who experienced greater hip sliding with the standard lumbar support benefited more from the proposed system, which stabilized their posture. The study concludes that the air cell lumbar support device with a hip auxiliary mechanism is effective in reducing driver fatigue, particularly for drivers prone to hip displacement during driving. By preventing forward hip movement, the system maintains consistent lumbar support, offering greater fatigue reduction than standard lumbar supports for this specific user group. The authors note that further research with a larger sample size is necessary to generalize these findings.

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• truck driver fatigue