Overview
Michigan State University's Biomechanical Design Research Laboratory (BDRL) has the expertise and laboratory capabilities to help with the design and evaluation of products. Much of our work has dealt with seating in the Automotive, Medical, Office, and Trucking industries, but our research is not limited to these areas.
The BDRL performs biomechanical evaluations which can include both objective measurements such as motion, force and pressure and subjective assessments in areas like comfort.
The capabilities of this lab include:
- The evaluation of human motion in conjunction with product movement
- The study of the distribution of weight and pressure in different types of seats
- The relationship between human posture and seat shape
- Using and producing computer models such as JOHN to simulate human movement
- Measuring buttock and back contours of seated occupants
Some of our more recent work has been performed with TecMath, Johnson Controls, and Steelcase. We have also worked with the following companies.
- Society of Automotive Engineers
- BMW
- Daimler Chrysler
- Ford
- General Motors
- Lear Seating
- Magna Systems
- P.S.A. (Peugeot)
- Toyota
- V.W.
- Volvo
Although this is a university setting, much of our research has been for industry, including new product evaluations. Testing conditions can be structured to ensure project confidentiality.
