Quantifying vision obscuration of A-pillar concept variants using digital human modeling

Pillars in modern vehicles provide structural integrity by surrounding the greenhouse (windshield, rear, and side windows) and joining the roof with the frame. The forward-most roof support posts, A-pillars, straddle the windshield and have an essential design impact that affects the aerodynamic performance, roof crush, and frontal impact performance. Although they protect the driver and passengers, A-pillars also create obstruction zones by limiting drivers' forward field of view (FOV). Therefore, the reduced forward vision caused by the obstruction zones leads to unforeseeable accidents or mishaps. We argue that providing a better pillar design that embodies a human-centered design approach could avoid such incidents. In this research, we propose an early design framework that integrates methods of generative design (GD) and digital human modeling (DHM) to demonstrate a proof-of-concept study that focuses on quantifying A-pillar obstruction in realistic traffic scenarios. This research also aims to illustrate how the framework functions through a case study, which compares concept pillar designs with cutout sections (see-through holes) to current pillar models (without see-through holes) in reducing the obstruction zones. The framework is used to assess whether the concept design approach improves the overall drivers' visibility of traffic objects that would otherwise be obscured behind current pillars.