This study evaluated whole body vibration (WBV), non-driving task performance, muscle activity, and self-reported discomfort and
motion sickness between different seat
suspension systems in a simulated vehicle environment. In a repeated-measures laboratory experiment where field-measured 6-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) passenger vehicle vibration was replicated on a 6-DOF motion platform, we measured WBV, non-driving task (pointing, typing, web-browsing, and reading) performance, low back (erector spinae), shoulders (trapezius) and neck (splenius capitis and sternocleido-mastoid) muscle activity, and self-reported discomfort and
motion sickness from three different seats: a vertical (z-axis) active
suspension, multi-axial active
suspension [vertical (z-axis) + lateral (y-axis)], and a static
suspension-less seat (current seat type in all passenger cars). Both the vertical and multi-axial active
suspension seats significantly reduced the vertical WBV exposure (p < 0.0001). However, no significant differences were found in non-driving task performance (p > 0.30), muscle activity (p > 0.22), self-reported discomfort (p > 0.07), and
motion sickness (p = 0.53) across three different seats. These findings indicate that the active
suspension seats may have potential to future reduce the vertical and total WBV exposures, respectively. However, none of the
suspension seats demonstrate any significant benefits on the non-driving task performance, muscle activity, self-reported discomfort and
motion sickness measures in a simulated vehicle environment.