抄録
A new ride comfort simulator has been developed to improve passenger comfort on trains. The test example features a 12-seat passenger cabin mockup mounted on an electrically powered 6-axis motion base. Since the simulator's vibration, noise and temperature levels as well as its landscape scenery visuals can be independently controlled, the simulator contributes data to identify the influence on passenger comfort of each factor or plural factors. In this paper, we outline the simulator's special features and introduce four experiments: the combined effects of vibration and sound on passenger comfort; optimal strap and handrail positions on commuter trains; optimal table dimensions for PC users on express trains; and the postural balance of passengers walking through a moving train.
