This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Development of Objective Test Methods for Determination of Ejection Seat Cushion
Technical Paper
2003-01-2212
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Ejection seat cushions in current U.S. Air Force aircraft are not suitable for comfort during extended missions. Specific physiological problems such as buttock, leg and back pain, numbness and tingling in the extremities, and overall fatigue have been documented in past laboratory research and operational use [1,2,3,5,6]. Designing a single cushion to address the physiological problems of the entire aircrew population is a significant challenge. Cushion material selection, cockpit space restrictions, and limited ability to reposition during flight contribute to discomfort during extended missions. Ejection seat dimensions and contours are fixed in most cases, causing accommodation problems for large and small occupants.
A pilot study was performed at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to investigate objective test methods for determining cushion comfort. Five volunteer subjects were tested with a variety of operational and prototype cushions. Peak seated pressures, contact areas, and lumbar spinal shapes were measured for each cushion. Tests ranged from six-minute quick looks to gather comparative objective measurements, to four-hour extended seating tests to gather subjective and performance data.
The study showed objective test methods could be used to identify comfort trends for different cushion candidates. Seated peak pressures and contact areas differed among the cushion specimens that were tested. Trends in subject performance and comfort ratings were also shown. Alternate pressure and shape measurement test equipment and data analysis techniques should be investigated. The data also show that the comfort characteristics of current operational equipment could be improved.
Recommended Content
Authors
Topic
Citation
Pint, S., Pellettiere, J., and Nguyen, C., "Development of Objective Test Methods for Determination of Ejection Seat Cushion," SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-2212, 2003, https://doi.org/10.4271/2003-01-2212.Also In
References
- Cohen D. An Objective Measure of Seat Comfort Aviation Space Environmental Medicine 1998 69 410 4
- Cooke J.P. Morgan T.R. Pulsating Seat Cushion Evaluation SAFE Association Symposium Proceedings, San Diego, CA 1976
- Hearon B.F. Brinkley J.W. Effect of Seat Cushions on Human Response to +Gz Impact Aviation Space Environmental Medicine 1986 57 113 21
- Perry C.E. Evaluation of a Proposed B-2 Seat Cushion by +Gz Impact, AL/CF-TR-1997-0112 Armstrong Laboratory Wright Patterson AFB OH February 1997
- Severance C.M. B-2 Aircrew Seat Comfort Cushion Design and Development Northrop Grumman Corporation Palmdale, CA SAFE Association Symposium Proceedings 1997 25 32
- Pint S.M. Internal Memorandum, ACES II Seat Cushion Comfort Interview with LtCol Lex Brown, AFRL/HEC 2 Aug 99
- VanIngen-Dunn C. Richards M.K. Feasibility of Reducing Incidence of Low Back Pain in Helicopter Pilots Using Improved Crewseat Cushions AL-SR-1991-0009 Armstrong Laboratory Wright-Patterson AFB OH December 1992
- Perry C.E. Nguyen T.Q. Pint S.M. Evaluation of Proposed Seat Cushions to Vertical Impact SAFE Association Symposium Proceedings Reno, NV Sept 2000
- Happ M.J. Improved Seat Comfort for Extended Missions H. Koch & Sons, Inc. SBIR Phase 1 Final Report, AFRL-HE-WP-TR-2000-0053 February 2000
- Shields R.K. Cook T.M. Lumbar Support Thickness: Effect on Seated Buttock Pressure in Individuals with and without Spinal Cord Injury Physical Therapy 73 2 March 1992
- Dennis M.R. Mandel P.H. Improved Comfort, Safety, and Communications for Aviators, Re-Thinking the Man-Machine Interface Oregon Aero, Inc. Aloha, Oregon December 5 1992
- Segal T. Pilot Safety and Spinal Injury, Lasham Gliding Society England Presented at the XX OSTIV Congress Benalia, Australia XII 4 1987
- Arnegard R.J. Operator Strategies Under Varying Conditions of Workload. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center, NASA CR-4385 1991
- Arnegard R.J. Comstock J.R. Multi-attribute Task Battery: Applications in Pilot Workload and Strategic Behavior Research Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Aviation Psychology Columbus, Ohio April 1991 1118 1123
- Comstock J.R. Arnegard R.J. The Multi-Attribute Task Battery for Human Operator Workload and Strategic Behavior Research NASA Technical Memorandum 104174 January 1992
- Cantor A. Live Qualification of the Lumbar Pad and Pulsating Seat Cushion for the S-3A Escape System NADC-74031-40 Naval Air Development Center (NADC) Warminster, PA 14 Feb 1974