Abstract
Humans can maneuver mechanical systems by regulating their limbs posture naturally while acquiring kinematical and dynamic characteristics of the systems through sensory organs. If such human sensory and motor characteristics changing in the task can be quantitatively described, it would be useful to design and/or develop a novel human-machine system so that humans can manipulate a machine more instinctively and comfortably. This paper investigates the interaction between human sensory and motor properties at the foot during the operation of an automobile pedal, as an example of human-machine systems, and demonstrates the close relationship between the perceptual properties of force resistance at the foot and the loads for foot joints much depending on the pedal layout. Finally, based on biomechanical and psychophysical analyses, a design method of pedal resistance properties is discussed.
