Leg and foot support during non-driving scenario: Investigating how added support systems are valued by users and how they should be designed to increasecomfort

Abstract

The new generation of electric cars and future generations of autonomous cars will change behaviors while charging and driving, creating opportunities where one can relax in the car. This master thesis aimed to investigate how added support systems for lower legs and feet in Volvo cars are valued by users, and how these support systems should be designed to suit different drivers to improve sitting comfort during non-driving scenarios, such as waiting while charging or riding an autonomous car. The process has been user-centered and iterative, starting with scope definition and continuing with two user tests. The first user test focused on the design of the leg support, including size, shape and placement. The second test focused on how to maximize sitting comfort with leg and foot support, testing with and without the leg and foot support and with the user in different torso angles. Test results were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, showing that people sit most comfortably in a freely chosen seat back angle with both leg and foot support. Guidelines for how the leg support should be designed and the foot support should be positioned have been developed based on the user test results. The guidelines were then a basis for the final prototype that was made