Modelling Continuous and Intermittent Cranking Motions Available to Purchase

Various aspects of operator performance during cranking are affected by the variability in crank size, resistance, location and position. Adequate prediction models incorporating these factors are not available to the designers of man‐machine systems. Consequently a set of experiments was conducted using three levels of crank radius, three levels of torque, three levels of plane angle, three levels of crank height, and two turning directions (namely, clockwise and anti‐clockwise) for continuous as well as intermittent cranking. The effect of radius, torque, plane angle and crank height were found to be significant and a subject's anthropometric dimensions and hand‐arm strength influenced cranking performance significantly. Prediction models for the turning rate for continuous and intermittent cranking were developed.