• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2005

This study proposes an innovative design guideline to assist the evaluation and improvement of the dynamic comfort of vehicle seating. The existing evaluation method for the comfort of vehicle seating was investigated to broach problems in evaluation. It was found that the currently existing evaluation method employs the resonance frequency of the vibration system composed of the seat and the human body and the maximum vibration transmissibility. This study proposes a design guideline aimed at the enhancement of vibration transmission characteristics above the resonance range, particularly within the range of 10-18 Hz. In order to meet this guideline, a seat was constructed out of foam having a low damping coefficient. It was then installed in a vehicle for a driving test. The driving test confirmed the improvement of the dynamic comfort of the seat. The result of evaluation of the improved seat using the SEAT index, an industry standard widely used to evaluate the dynamic comfort of a seat considering the perceptivity characteristics of the human body, showed that the perceptive vibration transmission had reduced by more than $11\%$. The effect of the modification of seat foam was also verified through a subjective assessment of dynamic comfort of the seats.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.210-218
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• 2000

It is absolutely important to design passenger seat so that train passengers can satisfy because passenger seat is one of the most important parts in tile determination of passenger's satisfaction for train.. So, it is necessary to consider passengers' characteristics, requirements, and dissatisfactions in seat design. However, passengers' dissatisfactions for the seat of Mugunghwa-ho train have been often raised through various routes. It is necessary to resolve their dissatisfactions to provide comfortable trip to passengers. So, we designed a seat of new Mugunghwa-ho train that resolved passengers' dissatisfactions. Our focusing design parts were the seat pan and the backrest of passenger seat. We investigated passengers' dissatisfactions for the seat of Mugunghwa-ho train through various methods and the human factors design guidelines of passenger seat through literature survey. We designed a new seat on the basis of investigated results. For newly designed seat, we evaluated comfort, sensible satisfaction, and fitness in comparison with the existing seat. An experimental method and a subjective method were used in this evaluation. In all aspects, new seat was superior to the existing.

• IE interfaces
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2001

Because passenger seat is one of the most important parts in the determination of passengers' satisfaction for train, it is absolutely important to design the passenger seat so that train passengers can satisfy. So, in the seat design it is necessary to consider passengers' characteristics, requirements, and dissatisfactions. However, passengers' dissatisfactions for the seat of Mugunghwa-ho train have been often raised through various routes. It is necessary to resolve their dissatisfactions to provide comfortable trip to passengers. So, we designed a new seat of Mugunghwa-ho train that resolved passengers' dissatisfactions. Our focusing design parts were the seat pan and the backrest of passenger seat. We investigated passengers' dissatisfactions for the seat of Mugunghwa-ho train through various methods and the human factors design guidelines through literature survey. We designed a new seat on the basis of investigated results. For newly designed seat, we evaluated comfort and sensible satisfaction in comparison with the existing seat. An experimental method and subjective methods were used in this evaluation. In all aspects, the new seat was superior to the existing.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2015

A bus seat is required to be ergonomically designed in terms of its shape and physical properties to increase seating comfort. The present study is intended to develop a systematic bus seat evaluation protocol based on seating comfort. A total of 48 participants evaluated 12 parts (seat belt, recliner, armrest, headrest, upper-back support, lumbar support, seatback bolster, seatback overall, hip support, thigh support, seatpan bolster, and seatpan overall) of 12 bus seats with 17 subjective comfort measures (e.g., convenience of control, suitability of size, and overall comfort). Lastly, ergonomic features of shape and physical properties of each seat part were identified based on the subject evaluation analysis results. The developed bus seat evaluation protocol can be applied to evaluate various types of seats.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1-4
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• 2014

In recent years, requests for automotive seat comfort are increasing. An important issue of them is long-term seat comfort. Until now, the study for long-term seat comfort has been studied mainly using driver's questionnaire, changing adrenalin and electromyography. Actually the results and methodologies of them are difficult to apply to seat development and design because of money and time required. In this study, we developed Seating Feel Curve for seat comfort evaluation and a long-term seat comfort evaluation which can be applied to the development of seat comfort using seat support.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2013.04a
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• pp.780-787
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• 2013

Virtual Seat Method (VSM) is used in this study for a combined evaluation method (objective & subjective) to determine comfort value of passenger vehicle seat in terms of idle vibration. In the study, a process for applying VSM divided into two stages is established. Two kinds of seat mounting passenger vehicle and six subjects are employed to compare the comfort value obtained by VSM method and by SEAT value. As a conclusion, the results by the two methods were well consistent so that VSM is verified as a method to measure ride comfort of seat in terms of idle vibration at passenger vehicle.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.631-639
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• 2013

Virtual seat method(VSM) which is an evaluation method combined objective and subjective process is used in this study in order to determine seat comfort index of idle vibration of passenger vehicle. The VSM is implemented by two steps which are for objective index in the first step and for subjective estimation in the second step. In the study, two seats mounted on passenger vehicle was compared in terms of dynamic seat comfort by six subjects employed for the VSM method as well as SEAT value which is a conventional objective method. It is concluded that the dynamic comfort index by the VSM is more reliable than the SEAT value thanks to adding subjective evaluation on top of the objective result.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.381-390
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• 2010

The automotive seat comfort evaluation was to begin a key aspect in seat design. It depended largely on the basic mechanical aspect such as geometric parameters of seat, choice of suspension system and cushion material used. Until recently, seat comfort evaluation advanced to evaluate subjective sensitivity of human. The external literatures showed in the last decade, there have been very few attempts to establish and document automotive seat comfort evaluation. In 2006 Smith, D. proposed the statistically reliable tool in giving a numeric rating for set comfort and the tool was used in the many country. On the other hands, we, in Korea, had not the reliable tool for the automotive seat comfort evaluation. So that, we studied to develope the questionnaire for seat comfort evaluation based on Smith, D.(2006) and some studies. As a result, we developed 36 contents for the automotive seat comfort evaluation with the help of professional in Korean automotive industry. Here, 36 contents were identified as the dimensions that represent the human sensitivity and psychological feeling on comfortable seat. Also, we derived the priorities for the 36 contents by using analytic hierarchy process (AHP), based on the judgments of 30 experts and drivers. This study will help the designers and developers clarify the conceptual and abstract aspect of the design evaluation by proposing a more systematic and process-oriented method.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 1999

The improvement of automotive seating system, particularly for the driver, has been the subject of intense interest. In this study, the methods for evaluating the seating comfort are investigated. A subjective evaluation has been the general method for evaluating the seating comfort of automotive seat. Therefore, the survey using the roadside interview is conducted. In addition, the subjective evaluation with a questionnaire using the laboratory set-up is investigated. With this subjective evaluation, in order to evaluate the comfort objectively, the body pressure distribution, seat physical characteristics and eletromygram are investigated. These objective evaluation methods are compared with the subjective evaluation. As a result, the body pressure distribution, seat physical characteristics and electromyogram are recommended as the objective technique for the seating comfort evaluation.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1993.04a
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• pp.124-133
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• 1993

Porper ergonomic design of a passenger seat for the highspeed train is one of the essential design components that is directly related to passenger comfort. This study investigated a systematic approach to ergonomic passenger seat design and evaluation for the Korean highspeed train. To design an ergonomic passenger seat that improves passenger comfort, seat dimensions, Korean anthropometry, passenger activities in the coach, body postures and body contours were considered. The interrelationship of these factors was analyzed and seat dimensions were suggested. To properly evaluate the dimensions suggested, four prototypes were made and iteratively evaluated as a feedback procedure. This approach is expected to be applicable to the passenger seat design of other transport vehicles as well as a train.