Friday, July 15, 2011 Seat Comfort Has a First Name, It’s O-S-C-A-R
 The name “Oscar” may bring to mind a grouch, an award statuette, a former championship boxer or maybe even a hot dog. But for Chevrolet, Oscar plays a key role in the engineering and interior design of the all-new 2013 Malibu.
Oscar is GM’s three-dimensional, mannequin-like simulation tool comfort engineers used early in the product development process of Malibu to determine the overall dimensional layout of the car’s interior. Before the interior was designed and engineered, Oscar first provided the key measurements Engineering and Design needed to create optimal interior space and comfort.
Technically known as a “Comfort Dimensioning System,” Oscar is assembled in 18 removable parts weighing up to 170 lbs., and is made of steel, plastic and aluminum.
In the mid-1940s, Northrop used a similar device named Oscar Eightball. The 185-lb. aviation dummy was used for ejection seat and other testing. GM patented a similar tool for optimal interior space and comfort testing. Later on, the name was shortened to Oscar to differentiate the automotive from the aviation anthropomorphic test dummy.
Oscar is mechanically hinged at the hip or "H" point, which simulates the actual pivot center of the human torso and thigh. Based on the “H Point,” engineers and interior designers determine the necessary headroom and the optimal back angle that should be offered. All this data directly influences positioning of the steering wheel, the pedals, rearview mirrors, instrument panel and other driving controls to ensure that the Malibu provides maximum room and comfort for a broad spectrum of customers.
When it comes to leg length measurement, Oscar can be assembled to represent an average (172-pound) adult male (50th percentile), scaled up to a 95th percentile male (270 pounds), or reduced to a 5th percentile (108-pound) female.
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