Experiences of upright sleeping in a vehicle: the preferred back rest angle
G. Vledder (TU Delft - Emerging Materials)
R. Sabater Campomanes (Student TU Delft)
U. Singh (Student TU Delft)
H. Kılıç (Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University)
M. Smulders (TU Delft - Emerging Materials)
Yu (Wolf) Song (TU Delft - Emerging Materials)
P. Vink (TU Delft - Emerging Materials)
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Abstract
Taking a nap is a welcome pastime in vehicles such as trains, airplanes, and cars. Flat sleeping cannot always be facilitated because of space and economic constraints, but a larger backrest recline angle is associated with better sleep quality. To define the best and the worst comfort experience and sleep comfort in these settings, and to offer design guidelines to practitioners, six backrest recline angles were compared regarding overall comfort and sleep comfort. The backrest recline angles ranged from 110 to 150 degrees, and 180 degrees was added as a reference. 16 participants were invited to sleep for a duration of 90 min. in each condition. Overall comfort and sleep comfort significantly improve in conditions higher than 120 degrees. Local discomfort is rated relatively low in all angles, but in comparison, people experience high discomfort in the neck, lower back, and lower leg region while in the 110 and 120 degrees condition. It is concluded that in the bigger recline angles the napping comfort experience is higher, with a minimum advised angle of 130 degrees.