Matt Parkinson

Matthew B. Parkinson, Ph.D.

I am an assistant professor of Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University and the head of the new OPEN Design Lab where I conduct research into a new D-f-X area called Designing for Human Variability. This integrates concepts from Ergonomics, Biomechanics, and Human Factors with design tools like optimization and robust design. We tackle problems like safety, universal design, accommodation, and the allocation of adjustability. I also teach undergraduate and graduate design courses for the university. For more information on these topics explore my website, visit the OPEN Design Lab, or contact me.

 

News

August 2007. The National Science Foundation (NSF) will be funding my research into the Allocation of Adjustability, one aspect of Designing for Human Variability. The work will be conducted in my OPEN Design Laboratory at Penn State. You can read more about the work here.

June 2007. I presented some work on Considering installer and occupant variability in FMVSS202a compliance at the Innovations in Automotive Seating event in Dearborn, MI. You can download the presentation here.

Spring 2007. The graduate-level course Designing for Human Variability will be offered again in Fall 2007. It will be cross-listed in Engineering Design, Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering. More information is available at the OPEN Design Lab's website.

April 2007. Including preference in anthropometry-driven models for design accepted for presentation at ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada.

April 2007. Standing reach envelopes incorporating anthropometric variance and postural cost accepted for presentation at SAE Digital Human Modeling for Design and Engineering Conference in Seattle, Washington.

August 2006. I will be teaching a graduate-level course in Designing for Human Variability at Penn State in Spring 2007. More information is available at the OPEN Design Lab's website.

August 2006. U.S. Patent #7075209 granted for the design of Compliant Bistable Micromechanisms.

©2007 Matthew B. Parkinson