Mechanical and perceptual analyses of human foot movements in pedal operation

A human can maneuver mechanical systems by adjusting his/her own body naturally and effectively according to a target task by utilizing the kinematical and dynamic characteristics of operating systems acquired through sensory organs. If such human sensory and motor characteristics changing in the task can be quantitatively described, it would be useful to design and develop a novel human-machine system so that humans can manipulate a machine more instinctively and comfortably. This paper investigates the interaction between human sensory and motor properties at the foot during the operation of an automobile pedal, as an example of human-machine systems, and demonstrates the close relationship between the perceptual properties of force resistance at the foot and the loads for foot joints much depending on the pedal layout. Finally, based on biomechanical and perceptual analyses, a human-inspired design method of pedal dynamic properties is discussed.