Design of instrument cluster for automobiles

• Main Authors: Persson, Louise, Rundqvist, Malin
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Technology; Design; Human machine interaction; Ergonomics; Product; development; Instrument cluster; Teknik; Luleå
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-42821

This master thesis commenced in the beginning of September 2006. It was performed as a part of the project OPTIVe (Optimized System Integration for Safe Interaction in Vehicles). OPTIVe’s purpose is to investigate, evaluate and demonstrate methods and technical solutions for safe, efficient and cost effective integration of HMI systems in cars. It is a cooperative project between Volvo Car Corporation and Luleå University of Technology among others, which were also the assigners for this thesis. OPTIVe has executed surveys in USA and Sweden about which information instruments the driver desires to have displayed in the automobile and on which display. The purpose with this master thesis was to compile the answers regarding the instrument cluster and analyze which information instruments should be placed in that display. The results would be different design concepts suitable for Sweden and USA and if possible a concept suited for both countries. The result of the survey, when both countries were taken under consideration, was that the users desired to have the warning symbols Low oil pressure, Low fuel level, Parking brake engaged, High motor temperature, Charging system failure, and ABS failure displayed in the instrument cluster. The driver instruments desired were Speedometer, Fuel level and Motor temperature level indicator and no In-vehicle technology instruments. This lead to that four different concepts were designed which were suited for both countries. The first two concepts had a simple and clean design which was further developed into two new concepts with more decorations. When comparing the countries and the genders, instruments and warning symbols that will differ is the Tachometer, Low tire pressure and Engine in need of service. Testing the four concepts in the eye-track lead to discussions about changes and improvements that could be made and also, to a questionnaire handling the speedometer. The new questionnaire was conducted since it was discovered that the pointer of the speedometer in all ...