Usability, Habitability and Cab Performance in Heavy Surface Mining Trucks

Abstract

A study is presented focusing on the set of variables associated with the link between cognitive aspects, usability and fatigue in the context of the safe operation of heavy vehicles in a surface coal mine, in order to understand how driving performance is affected and the reduction of perceptual activity capacity in the detection of tasks associated with driving. Method: A multi-method approach was used where human activity recognition (HAR) was incorporated to analyze data from different sensor sources to identify activity-related features of a person. The study was developed in a surface mine with the participation of 37 drivers with a mean age of 37.4 years (STDV. 9.6), the study covered a shift design of 12 h duration and in sequence 3Day, 4 Night by three recovery shifts. Systematic observation sessions and data recording were carried out. Results: The various data recorded show that the usability possibilities of the cabins in terms of driver performance is closely related to the influence of aspects of geometry and composition of the cabs on the one hand and on the other hand with the cumulative effects of working time, i.e. it is not only to understand the impact of the 12-h shift and its effects on the modification of metabolic aspects and sleep hygiene of drivers, to explain the problem of driving performance, it must also consider an aspect that influences performance such as sleep debt.