Calls for papers

 

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation

 

Special Issue on: "Digital Human Modelling for Vehicle Design and Manufacturing"

Guest Editors:
Dr. Gunther Paul, University of South Australia, Australia
Assoc. Prof. Matthew Reed, University of Michigan, USA
Dr. Xuguang Wang, IFSTTAR, France

Digital human modelling (DHM) has today matured from research into industrial application. In the automotive domain, DHM has become a commonly used tool in virtual prototyping and human-centred product design. While this generation of DHM supports the ergonomic evaluation of new vehicle design during early design stages of the product, by modelling anthropometry, posture, motion or predicting discomfort, the future of DHM will be dominated by CAE methods, realistic 3D design, and musculoskeletal and soft tissue modelling down to the micro-scale of molecular activity within single muscle fibres.

As a driving force for DHM development, the automotive industry has traditionally used human models in the manufacturing sector (production ergonomics, e.g. assembly) and the engineering sector (product ergonomics, e.g. safety, packaging). In product ergonomics applications, DHM share many common characteristics, creating a unique subset of DHM. These models are optimised for a seated posture, interface to a vehicle seat through standardised methods and provide linkages to vehicle controls. As a tool, they need to interface with other analytic instruments and integrate into complex CAD/CAE environments.

Important aspects of current DHM research are functional analysis, model integration and task simulation. Digital (virtual, analytic) prototypes or digital mock-ups (DMU) provide expanded support for testing and verification and consider task-dependent performance and motion. Beyond rigid body mechanics, soft tissue modelling is evolving to become standard in future DHM.

When addressing advanced issues beyond the physical domain, for example anthropometry and biomechanics, modelling of human behaviours and skills is also integrated into DHM. Latest developments include a more comprehensive approach through implementing perceptual, cognitive and performance models, representing human behaviour on a non-physiologic level. Through integration of algorithms from the artificial intelligence domain, a vision of the virtual human is emerging.

Subject Coverage
We invite papers that can demonstrate innovation in the area of digital human modelling (DHM) for automotive engineering. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Anthropometry and dynamic human shape modelling
• Human functional data and their modelling
• Task-related discomfort
• Modelling of human reach and functional space
• Modelling of cognitive processes and man-machine interaction
• Kinematic and dynamic motion simulation
• Occupant posture and comfort modelling
• Modelling of hand and foot
• Human vibration
• Driver-seat interface
• Modelling of musculo-skeletal activity
• Soft tissue modelling
• Task simulation
• Human-in-the-loop modelling
• System integration
• Ingress/egress

Notes for Prospective Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. (N.B. Conference papers may only be submitted if the paper was not originally copyrighted and if it has been completely re-written).

All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page

Important Dates

Manuscript submission deadline: 15 April, 2012 (extended)

Final submission of revised paper: 30 June, 2012