Quantifying a Vehicle Interior Design’s Ability to Accommodate Drivers’ Preferences

Abstract

This study presents novel methods for evaluating a vehicle interior design’s ability to accommodate drivers’ preferences. The methods are based on the consideration of a driver’s intra-individual variability in the preferred settings of adjustable vehicle interior elements. A numerical index, named the Q index, quantifies a given vehicle interior design’s ability to accommodate a single driver’s preference. The Q index can also be used to quantify and visualize a design’s ability to accommodate a group of drivers. Illustrative examples on the use of the methods are presented.