Human Factors Engineering

Assignment 7 Solution

The following three questions are really three parts of the same problem

1 Given MT = 0.1 + 0.154 log2(2A/W) = 0.1 + 0.154 Id. Find Id for MT = 0.30 s.

Id = (0.30 – 0.1)/0.154 = 1.3

2 Find pedal width to inter-pedal distance ratio. So, calculate W/A.

Id = log2 (2A/W) = 1.3. So, 2A/W = 2^1.3 or A/W = 1.23, so W/A = 2/(2^1.3) = 0.812

3 Need to calculate MT for the old boots, using MT = 0.1 + 0.154 log2(2A/W) = 0.1 + 0.154 Id.

Id MT (new boots) MT (old boots)

2.0 0.4 0.1 + 0.154*2.0 = 0.41
2.5 0.5 0.1 + 0.154*2.5 = 0.49
3.0 0.8 0.1 + 0.154*3.0 = 0.56
3.5 1.0 0.1 + 0.154*3.5 = 0.64
4.0 1.4 0.1 + 0.154*4.0 = 0.72

For low Id values MT (old boots) is about the same as MT (new boots). For high Id values MT (new
boots) is larger than MT (old boots). Thus, old boots are the same as or better than new boots.
So, do not switch to new boots and continue to use old boots.

Note: This conclusion is based upon the MT analysis only. There may be other reasons why one
has to shift to the new boots, e.g. the new boots may be special safety boots with steel toes
protection which are heavier than the old boots which do not have steel toes protection.