Client
Measurement Technology Northwest, Seattle, WA
Project Objectives
- Design an advanced thermal manikin with full human thermal and thermoregulatory transient response to assess thermal comfort in vehicles
- The manikin will allow for the development of more efficient climate control systems to improve vehicle fuel efficiency
Summary of Project and Results (Non-Confidential)
- Designed a human thermal manikin with 125 independently controlled surface segments to simulate the thermal response of the human body to non-uniform thermal environments
- The thermal manikin was controlled by a dynamic loop with a human thermal model so that the transient response of the manikin to thermal environment was the same as a human
- Designed a human like sweating system using porous metal technologies that allowed for spatial and temporal control of sweat rates
- Designed a thermal sensation system using hundreds of thermistors
- Designed a heat generation system that simulated human metabolism, shivering, and thermoregulatory responses
- Designed a respiration system that generated oscillating breaths of warm humid air
- Designed manikin joints that allowed for close to the full degree of human motion
- Designed a manikin skeletal system to support the body and components
- The manikin was completely self contained with no external connections
- Designed a wireless communication system that allowed the manikin to communicate with external computers
- Designed a speaking voice output for the manikin
Development of an advanced thermal manikin with 125 surface segments, and full thermoregulatory control including sweating and breathing for Measurement Technology Northwest
Human thermal comfort testing of the thermal manikin in a vehicle environment
Infrared image of the thermal manikin and independently controlled surface segments
Thermal manikin internal wiring to control the 125 surface segments