Comments
Boats are designed to be used by humans. The use of Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) systems has enhanced the design of boats, but it is still rare for humans to be effectively represented within the design process. Particularly related to how the crew member interacts with the craft's displays and controls. Digital Human Models (DHMs) are used in a number of situations, (e.g. car design) but their use is limited for boat applications. For example; they are generally dressed in casual clothes that are unrepresentative of typical professional boat crew clothing (e.g. dry-suit) and equipment (e.g. lifejacket). The presentation will describe the work undertaken to develop DHMs for use in the marine design environment where the crewmembers wear bulky equipment and have restricted ranges-of-motion which compromises their ability to command and control the craft. In association with the HSC Human Factors Engineering Design Guide, the marine specific DHMs provide the CAD designers with a tool to help ensure that humans can effectively operate and move around craft before mock-ups are produced, and boats are built.