Assessing Steering Feel in Truck Drivers: Evaluation Criteria and Rating Scale

Abstract

In the past, steering feel in trucks was a compromise between acceptable steering torques at low velocities and a direct steering feel at higher velocities. Today, steering characteristics can be specifically adapted to the current driving situation due to the use of electric power steering systems. Following the human-centred design for interactive systems (ISO 9241-210) [1], the end user of a product must be included into the development process. Thus, a questionnaire to measure steering feel in truck drivers was designed. Therefore, evaluation criteria were derived from interview studies (N = 76 drivers) and the literature. Afterwards, vehicle dynamics experts supplied them with specific descriptions to maximize comprehensibility and determined the ideal situations in which the criteria can be assessed. Based on another interview study (N = 98 drivers) and a subsequent cluster analysis, the criteria were allocated to dimensions of steering feel. Lastly, a driving study (N = 41 drivers) was conducted to evaluate and further improve the questionnaire. In future research, it can be used to measure and optimize steering feel from the truck drivers’ perspective.