We examined the effects of a driver's age on driving-related behavior induced from performing in-vehicle tasks on a driving simulator. Twenty-four drivers, ranging from 18 to 66 years old, followed a car while performing tasks requiring both visual-manual and voice input operations. The results of a driver's glances at the in-vehicle device showed no main effects of age group on the total glance time and the single glance duration. Indices of the driver's operation and the vehicle behavior showed main effects of both age and task, but these interactions were not significant. Fluctuations of lateral position and headway increased by the tasks, while there were no age effects and interactions. The significant task effects without interactions imply a task induces the same influence in every age group.

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Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements during cycle life tests were conducted using commercial 18650-type lithium-ion cells. The Nyquist plots showed that a shift to higher resistance occurs at the test condition of higher temperature and the increase in arc largely occurs at the test condition of lower temperature and wider State-of-Charge (SOC) range. Equivalent circuit analyses of the spectra were performed, and the relationship of the increase in internal resistance against cumulative discharge capacity, and capacity retention was studied. The analyses showed that an increase in Ohmic resistance is accelerated by the test temperature, and an increase in charge-transfer resistance of cathode is accelerated at 0°C and a wide SOC range. Moreover, an increase in the sum of Ohmic resistance and the resistance component of the high frequency arc was suggested to have a relationship with capacity retention.

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[in Japanese]

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