Jack, the Siemens PLM Software human simulation modeling tool that's part of the Tecnomatix digital manufacturing offering, got a little remodeling of its own with a new point release that pushes usability and productivity enhancements to facilitate easier, more accurate ergonomic studies.
Think of Jack (and there is a Jill) as digital manufacturing software's equivalent to gaming avatars. The digital humans are deployed on to digital factory floors, for example, to test and simulate safety conditions surrounding different machinery or to explore ergonomic conditions like reachability when assembling the virtual product. We've been reporting on Jack and other human simulation modeling tools for some time. But they've remained somewhat niche applications deployed by the pockets of large automotive OEMs and other manufacturers that have gone far down the path of digital prototyping.
Jack 7.1 comes with additional anthropometric databases, including those representing Japan and Korea.
Thanks to technology advances and an increased focus on ergonomics and safety on the factory floor, the use of human simulation modeling is becoming more widespread, according to Tom Hoffman, Siemens PLM Software's global marketing director for manufacturing engineering software solutions. Not only is the software starting to be used more readily in its traditional applications of ergonomics around product design and safety on the factory floor, but it's also starting to be used in specialized ways around maintenance and training. For example, Hoffman says the Department of Defense is increasing its deployment of tools like Jack to explore how vehicles get serviced in the field, and other companies are branching out and using the tools for training around service operations.
"We're seeing an uptick in interest, and we're seeing a lot of new technology come on board that makes human simulation tools more accessible," Hoffman told us. Specifically, more accessible motion capture technology, better graphics capabilities, and interactive interface systems like Microsoft's Kinect are pushing the envelope and opening doors for new use cases for the tools.
In its latest release of Jack, Siemens PLM Software has focused on making the software more accessible, as well as making productivity enhancements to help encourage broader use. Jack 7.1 includes new anthropometric databases, including those for Japan and Korea, to ensure populations in those areas are properly represented. In addition, the upgrade includes enhancements for posture prediction for seated activities and for disembodied hands. The seated posture tool, for instance, predicts overall body posture when a digital avatar needs to reach around and grab parts from a seated position. There is also a more accessible measurement tool -- a feature enhancement that was added based on user demand.
Two of my sons are rather tall -- one is 6'-6" and the other is 6'-7". The taller one has trouble in a Honda Odyssey minivan, but is comfortable in a little Saturn Ion. Go figure. The taller one also had trouble with the Toyota Prius PHV. My impression is that these problems can be circumvented if the manufacturer is willing to let the driver's seat slide back into the rear seat area. That virtually eliminates the possibility of a passenger sitting in the rear seat, but at least it allows the driver to drive.
Thanks for the link. Good to know they are being responsive.
My husband's problem wasn't hot spots: it was the fact that he could not sit in the seat without bending his neck! The seat was simply too high, even at the lowest adjustment, and the cabin too small overall. He was more than 12 inches taller than the average Japanese person of that time, and Toyota and others had not yet adjusted to building cars for sale in the US that were designed for taller Americans.
For the past 15 years or so, Buick has been putting a lot of effort into ergonomics and seat design with special attention being given to those who are several standard deviations from the norm. I believe they were making special efforts to remove the "hot spots" in seats for drivers as tall as 6'-7". See link below.
Alex, my experiences have been similar to yours in that human factor and ergonomic considerations are often claimed to have been well thought out by product management; but in reality are truly an afterthought. Its only after generations of (questionable) product releases show negative repercussions in the market that companies truly pay attention to real HF & ergonomic "needs".
In consumer products, a stodgy corporate attitude ("...we've always done it that way") can often be painfully reversed by a leaner, smaller competitor suddenly coming in and taking their market share.
In lesser driven markets like the military,end-users don't get much say in tools and equipment issued to them, and feedback to product designers is even more constrained - (recall the recent post in Design News discussing the pedometer/battery charger strapped to the Infantryman's boot heels).
In either scenario, HF & ergo can certainly stand to be further studied before launching the final versions of most products and equipment.These Avatars for the Factory Floor should prove positive worth, providing their use & application for design intent isn't too difficult to manage by the design engineers.
Interesting, as a tall person, I remember the very first Japanese cars sold in the US in the 1970s as being quite uncomfortable. And for my (then) husband, who was 6'7", they were unusable.To Rob's point, I wonder if that gave the Japanese a head start on designing for different populations? I've continued to buy Japanese cars all this time because they're just better, and partly, I guess, because they did adapt to market feedback on so many features.
Good point, Chuck. During times I've rented cars frequently, I've noticed that American sedans seemd to have everything in the wrong place in the driver's seat. I would keep bumping my elbows and knees. With Japanese cars I never ran into these problems. I've often suspected Japanese engineers paid more attention to whether you bump you elbow on the arm rest when you reach for something on the dash.
Simulation can be a very powerful tool. Working at a simulation company many years ago, we started an effort to include the field engineers in the design phase. This helped to ensure that they knew the products when they went out the door. It also helped to identify maintenance problems early in the design phase.
This is a step further in that type of effort. Get "human" feedback in the simulation phase.
Chuck and Ann, you definitely hit on an issue in terms of digital avatars accommodating the various sizes of people based on a variety of human factors, including age, sex, and nationality. Jack and Jill and other human simulation applications definitely take these differences into account via the use of anthropemetric databases. In fact, one of the primary enhancements in this release was accommodation for the Japanese and Korean markets with new anthropometric databases that best represent the size and stature of those populations.
Beth: Are Jack and Jill (or something similar) used by the auto industry, especially for seat and dashboard design? Imagine all the different size of people who have to be accommodated by one automotive seat. Seems like automotive would be the perfect application for this.
In my experience, human factors has always been relegated to a tangential role (indeed, it's often an afterthought) in the design process. It does get significant lip service, but unless you're talking about a software UI, generally usage scenarios are not considered seriously enough. Maybe for washing machines (consumer appliances), although judging by our Made By Monkeys sagas, there've been more than a few problems there. But certainly not in most other (and particularly non-consumer, such as factory) scenarios, so this is a good think, adding it front and center into the simulation tool.
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