Ergonomics Design Support for MX Tractor Line Supported the development of a new line of agricultural tractors for Case- IH. This work included the development of design specifications for control location, seating geometry, workspace adjustability, visibility, entry and egress, handles, and other components. Development work, consultations, and reviews of mockups were completed in the US and UK.

Ergonomics Design Support for Large Articulated 4WD Tractor Line Provided ergonomics design support for a new line of very large, articulated agricultural tractors. Activities included the analysis of workspace geometry, evaluations of visibility, recommendations on control movement and adjustability, seating, storage, basic maintainability, and entry and egress.

Tractor Steering Wheel Design Specified and developed mockups of a new steering wheel for an agricultural tractor. Design features included improved visibility through the wheel, improved comfort and feel, elimination of sharp and hard surfaces, and a simpler appearance. This steering wheel is now used on all high-end Case-IH agricultural tractors and combines.

Transmission Control Design and Prototyping Identified control design and functional requirements, and developed and fabricated alternative designs for a multi-function transmission control for an agricultural tractor. Hard mockups were built by an automotive prototyping firm, and one of the designs was selected for use in the product. This control can be seen in the Case MX Maxxum line of tractors.

BiDirectional Tractor Cab and Controls Conducted an evaluation of cab controls and displays on a Bidirectional tractor in support of a new-generation product. Ergonomic data from 25 North American equipment operators were obtained as part of a customer clinic. Recommendations for control locations, operation, seating, and other aspects of this unique, reversible cab were provided.

Foldable ROPS Evaluation and Redesign Evaluated the usability of a prototype foldable rollover protective structure (ROPS). Task sequences, errors, user capabilities, and task requirements were evaluated. A study of the ROPS/implement interface was also conducted using photographic techniques. An alternative design, including instructions and warnings, was developed and, subsequently, implemented by the manufacturer.

Ergonomics Design Support for Versatile New Holland 4WD Tractor Developed detailed specifications for controls, displays, consoles, workspace geometry, visibility requirements, entry and egress for a large, articulated four-wheel-drive tractor. The new design provides marked improvements in function and ease-of-use over the old design.

Tractor Ride Quality Analysis and Solution Analyzed vibration and ride-quality data from a prototype agricultural tractor to determine the causes of unacceptable ride quality. Recommendations for "tuning" the vehicle based on human sensitivities to specific frequencies, amplitudes, and axes of movement were provided. Changes in weight distribution, tires, and suspension achieved the desired result.

Powershift Transmission Layout and Operation As a member of a small expert jury, evaluated ease-of-use issues for a powershift transmission system. User task requirements, information needs, and control inputs were evaluated, as were alternative transmission shift design possibilities. A layout was developed, as were recommendations for an active graphic display for the system.

Electronic Draft Control User Interface Developed the user interface for the Electro-Link Electronic Draft Control system. Concerns regarding the complexity and ease-of-use of previous systems were identified, functions in need of automation were specified, and alternate design concepts were developed and reviewed with engineering staff. Final specifications for the controls, panel, control dynamics, and labels were provided.

HFE and NVH Prioritization Program Conducted a research program to identify and prioritize operability and quality issues for a line of small, medium, and large agricultural tractors. In-depth interviews and card-sorts with 30 experienced operators were conducted. Cluster analyses were performed on ratings to identify the issues of greatest concern to operators. The findings were presented to product engineers in the U.S. and the U.K.

16 by 9 PowerShift Transmission Control Developed the basic user interface for the UltraCommand PowerShift Transmission. Conducted a transmission task analysis, developed concepts, determined operating concepts, develop the control shift pattern, specified control placement/travel/resistance. This was a highly successful product, the first of its kind in the agricultural tractor market

Mid-Size Tractor Customer Clinics Conducted sessions of customer clinics in England to evaluate the ergonomics of production, prototype, and competitive four-cylinder agricultural tractors. Participants were 50 operators from North America and Europe. Subjective data from operators were analyzed and compared to physical measures obtained on prototype and competitive products.

Small-Size Tractor Customer Clinics Conducted sessions of customer clinics to evaluate the ergonomics of prototype three-cylinder agricultural tractors relative to production and competitive products. One clinic was conducted in England and another was conducted in Tennessee. Operators were measured and weighed, and extensive ratings were obtained on prototype, production, and competitive equipment.

3-Cylinder Tractor Ergonomics Provided human factors data and control layouts for an updated three-cylinder agricultural tractor. Seating position, reach envelopes, transmission shift patterns, and control configurations were examined, and recommendations for improving the new model were provided and subsequently implemented by the client. This Ford tractor was the largest selling tractor in the world for a number of years.

LCD Display Design Provided design recommendations for improving the ease-of-use and legibility of a large liquid crystal display. Recommendations on display content, character size, aspect ratio, stroke width, system logic, grouping, borders, and layout were provided. Special emphasis was given to developing a display output for a 16 by 16 transmission.

Articulated 4WD Tractor Operator Clinic Conducted human factors sessions of a customer clinic involving large, articulated four-wheel drive tractors. Six production vehicles from three manufacturers were evaluated, 25 operators were tested and interviewed, and recommendations for future designs were provided. The ergonomics data provided a basis for benchmarking current and future products for the manufacturer.

Ford New Holland Genesis Tractor Workspace Developed detailed specifications for the layout of the revolutionary Genesis tractor. Addressed seat placement and adjustability, steering wheel placement and adjustability, foot controls, hand controls, finger-operated controls, and console design. Assisted in the construction of a full scale mockup. The cab provided unmatched comfort and workspace adjustability.

Operator-Based Tractor Evaluation Conducted a thorough human factors review of the Case-IH Maxxum tractor. Analyses of entry and egress, seating, controls, displays, functionality, visibility, and maintainability were performed. Focused interviews were conducted with 65 owners on their farms in California, South Dakota, Iowa, Ontario, France, Germany, and the U.K. Data on crops, tractor uses, user characteristics, and tractor features were analyzed.

ROPS Research Plan Review Reviewed, under contract with the National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a plan to conduct research on adjustable Roll Over Protective Structures for tractors. Suggestions regarding focus, methodology, and data analysis were provided for the NIOSH-conducted research plan.

Prototype Tractor Review Conducted a thorough ergonomics review of a White prototype tractor for Agco at a test facility in Arizona. The vehicle was operated under various conditions. Visibility, controls, displays, seating, and other user-interface elements were evaluated. Recommendations for improvement prior to full-scale production were provided to corporate executives.

Tractor Interface Evaluation Assessed the ease-of-use and general ergonomics of a highly automated tractor with a continuously variable transmission. All operator inputs and tasks were assessed, as were system feedback loops. Recommendations concerning the design of future systems were provided to the manufacturer, Agco/Fendt.

JoyStick Control Handle Design Developed and modeled over one dozen designs for a multi-function control handle used for front loader and other manipulation functions. The most highly-rated design was slated for production by the client, a spacialized control manufacturer.

Tractor Interior Design Provided user interface design recommendations and layouts for a new line of tractors manufactured in France. Topics addressed included designs for Continuously Variable Transmission controls, electronic draft control, console design and layout, and overall workspace layout. 2004 Agritechnica Machine of the Year.

User Interface Design for Challenger Tractor Line Provided extensive user interface design guidance for all aspects of the interface for the Challenger MT tracked tractor. Topics addressed included workspace layout, consoles and display design, all controls and input configurations, and overall workspace layout and adjustability.

Challenger, Massey-Ferguson, and Agco Compact Tractor Line Interviewed potential owners in California and Maine, provided interface design support for the manufacturer in Japan, and orchestrated a customer clinic in Texas with a prototype product, competitive products, and operators.

Ergonomics Review of Tractor Line Evaluated cabs, controls, displays, and overall user interfaces on production tractors manufactured by Valtra in Finland. Recommendations on future design directions and needs were provided.