Human Factors Evaluation of an Experimental Locomotive Engineer Crewstation

A human factors evaluation of an experimental engineer control system was conducted by the Volpe Center using a locomotive research simulator—the Federal Railroad Administration Cab Technology Integration Laboratory (CTIL). The primary objective was to find the areas of the crewstation where it may provide (or deny) benefit to engineers from a human factors perspective. This was done by performing an initial evaluation with human factors experts to define major areas of concern; a comparison of the experimental crewstation (and the existing AAR-105 control stand in CTIL) to human factors design standard MIL-STD-1472G; an evaluation using an anthropometric modeling tool, to look at reachability, comfort, visibility and arm support; and a usability test with experienced engineers in the simulator. The evaluation found an increased level of comfort and reachability in the controls, and usability test subjects found the experimental system easy to use. However, the authors also found issues with the chair which may require adapting the specifications, such as unstable monitors, lack of writing space, and visibility of signals while standing. The authors also found issues which could easily be fixed in future iterations of the current system. Possibilities for future research regarding current control stands are also considered.

• Record URL:
  https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/human-factors-evaluation-experimental-locomotive-engineer-crewstation
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/43644
• Corporate Authors:

  Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Railroad Policy and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research, Development, and Technology
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Isaacs, Matthew
  • France, Megan
  • Melnik, Gina
• Publication Date: 2019-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report; Technical Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 201p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Anthropometry; Comfort; Crew compartments; Design standards; Human factors; Locomotive engineers; Railroad simulators; Safety; Visibility
• Identifier Terms: Cab Technology Integration Laboratory
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01727044
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-19/50, DOT-VNTSC-FRA-15-04
• Contract Numbers: 51RR04A900/NTF50
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 30 2019 8:20PM