Investigation of Acoustic Influencing Parameters to Increase the Human Performance Potential in Simultaneous Driving and Working Operation of Armoured Vehicles

Abstract

Humanitarian and physiological restrictions prevent the optimal execution and use of the corresponding technical achievement in various situations. For example, working simultaneously while driving in vehicle under vibration, noise, confinement and heat often leads to dizziness, nausea and finally even vomiting-all symptoms which significantly limit human performance. This phenomenon is one of the oldest protective reaction of the human organism and has been deeply investigated e.g. under the name simulator sickness or motion sickness. Unfortunately, new mobility concepts as autonomous driving vehicle always include the vision of parallel working activities while driving. For working crew members in military land vehicles, the situation is even worse due to the restricted outside view and body motion of protected all-terrain vehicle. In earlier projects the dependency of mechanical vibration and motion sickness was investigated. This paper now explains the determination of acoustic properties and threshold values for vehicle that enable ergonomic working at mobile workplaces without negatively influencing the human performance. The purpose of this first phase of the project was to create and validate an experimental setup, in which a sound exposure of test person with frequencies up to the infrasound range could be realized with help of an appropriate acoustic equipment. Psychological tests have been performed in parallel, so the cognitive performance of the test person was evaluated during exposition with sound. Based on field tests statistically found threshold values for a maximum exposure with low-frequency noise in vehicles with parallel working activities will be derived.