Abstract
Digital Human Modelling Systems (HMS's) are considered a basic element in the cockpit design process. Their bio-fidelity has yet to be fully demonstrated, however. Currently, a joint project, undertaken by the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL/HECP) and the Netherlands (TNO HFRI), is addressing this issue. This effort will help improve methods for controlling and assuring anthropometric accommodation of crew systems in military aircraft. A verification and validation procedure is being developed as a part of this project and has been implemented for several commercially available HMS's. The two phases of the procedure are:
Anthropometric Verification: Quantify and compare a set of anthropometric values measured on 8 test subjects with the same set measured on their corresponding digital manikins (their human models), and
F-16 Cockpit Validation: Quantify and compare field test results (involving reaches, clearance, vision) of the same 8 test subjects in an F-16 cockpit, to the digital test results obtained with the HMS's using digital models of the subjects placed in an F-16 CAD drawing. The digital tests are conducted without knowledge of the field data results. The ultimate goal of this project is to set the standard for verification and validation of Human Modelling Systems to ensure their bio-fidelity. A complete discussion of the methods is provided below. The results, however, were not available at the time this manuscript was submitted, but will be covered in the oral presentation.
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