CLIENT: DAIMLER TRUCK NORTH AMERICA LLC
Matching funding provided by: The Oregon Metals Initiative (OMI)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Motivation / Goals: Trucking-fleet managers report that driver slip-and-fall injuries during cab entry-and-exit are a significant problem causing lost time and a median cost of over $14,000 per incident.
- Approach: Truck manufacturer Daimler Truck North America sponsored a project with the Prototype Development Lab to create a solution.
STAFFING
- PDL graduate student Arthur Wells was the project lead.
- MIME capstone students participated in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years.
RESULTS
- After conducting a driver survey, performing an ergonomics analysis, vetting many alternatives, and building and testing a sequence of prototypes, a retrofittable handle system was selected and implemented.
- Testing with drivers has shown the system to be very effective.
- Perhaps the most significant design feature is that its placement and features change driver behavior by compelling them to use the handle when entering and exiting the cab.
- A conference paper entitled “Semi-Truck Driver Safe Egress Analysis and Renovation” describing the handle was published by ASME and presented at the 2020 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition.
- The handle is being implemented in a number of vehicles.
- A follow-up project to develop a production manufacturing concept is underway.
