The Determination of Functional Arm Reach Boundaries for Operation of Manual Controls

In the planning of the manual workspace of automobiles and aircraft cockpits, it is important that the designer should have access to data which can illustrate the reach capabilities of the potential user population. This paper presents a method which has been developed for the collection of such data. The subjects used for measurement represented the male and female Australian pilot population in terms of height and, during the measurement procedure, they were firmly restrained by-lap and sash harness while seated on an experimental chair with specifications similar to those found in current light aircraft. A description is given of the apparatus which allowed rapid recording of the measurements required for the determination of functional arm reach boundaries to an accuracy of ± 2 mm. The procedure which was followed while measuring maximum arm reach to 170 positions in space around each subject is outlined, together with the details which ensured experimental consistency throughout the project. Results are presented to define the boundaries reached by 95% of male and by 95% of female pilots and to indicate their accessibility to controls while firmly restrained with lap and sash harness in cockpits of some present light aircraft.