![]() In other words, it considers only people who are uniformly proportioned – small, medium, and large (see figure below). These measurements are identified as percentiles and each percentile corresponds to a person with all body dimensions in the same percentile. Specifically in cockpit design, this method uses body dimensions provided by commercial CAD software from the menu databases (anthropometric database) or from other source material that the designer can feed into the system. Some aircraft cockpit designers develop crew station geometry using the percentile method. This method can be referred to as the “5th-95th percentile approach”. It is common for designers to refer to tabled percentile values for user body dimensions, and to use the 5th percentile value as a minimum and the 95th percentile value for a maximum. Good ergonomic design attempts to accommodate most of the population in whatever task males and females are performing.Ī percentile is a statistical method for describing a value’s rank within a population specifically the percent value above and below the given value. The physical layout of the operator workstation is a design challenge characterized by continuous change. The definition of the cockpit geometry and its arrangement has repercussions for crew selection, training, and numerous logistical issues that affect the cost of operating the aircraft over its service life. The difficulty can be explained by the physical attributes of the target population (great variability in body size and in proportions is observed), as well as by the multiple dimension domains that must be taken into consideration within an aircraft cockpit. There are several methods for estimating workplace anthropometric criteria, but the literature shows that these two are the most used specifically for aircraft cockpit design.Īt this point it is important to clarify that accommodation definitions for aircraft cockpit design include the ability of the pilot to adequately see, reach, and actuate the controls to have external visual fields to see while landing, to steer clear of other aircraft, and to perform a wide variety of missions and to be able to escape safely, if needed.ĭesigning aircraft cockpits to accommodate the wide range of body sizes and shapes has always been a difficult problem for crew station engineers. This article concentrates on the two most commonly used methods in cockpit design: the univariate percentile approach and the multivariate boundary cases approach. There are several anthropometric requirements and verification methods used to incorporate information from these databases to accommodate the intended population. The designer must use the information in the database to establish the design parameters of the product or workstation – its dimensions, its adjustment ranges, and its accommodation envelope. ![]() Importantly, having the right anthropometric database is only the beginning of an ergonomic design solution. Thus, use of inappropriate or inadequate anthropometric data for designing workplaces, systems, and personal protective devices is a serious safety concern. The importance of anthropometric data for product efficacy and safety has been recognized by various industries. Up-to-date anthropometric data play a key role in design. ![]() However, these body dimensions are only helpful if they are taken from a sample population that represents the body size variation expected in the target population. The ergonomic design process requires that we know the body dimensions relevant to the function of the equipment as well as whom it should fit. This information, normally available in printed tables, is available for use by designers and engineers in the early design phase and includes general information such as body segment’s breadth, circumference, height, length, and/or weight of the group of interest. Given the commonly occurring need for anthropometric information, when considering design criteria, many anthropometric databases have been created. Anthropometry is a branch of human sciences that studies the physical dimensions of people, through the systematic measuring of size, weight, and proportions of the human body with the goal of achieving comfort, fit, and usability in design, which can be used to help ensure fit for a broad range of target populations by providing the range and limits of the target population in diverse markets. ![]() It is very important to reflect about this subject, since there is no consensus or specific guidelines indicating which method should be used to define design requirements. Maybe you will answer “percentile approach”, but at the end of this article you probably will change your mind. ![]()
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