Simple processing method for sensory data of mechanical engineering designs (Proposal of the one point selecting method )

Abstract

We propose a method for the assessment of the optimum diameter of a pipe that is required for easy grasping, called the one point selecting method. A simple sensory evaluation method was investigated to verify the utility of this new method by comparing the new method with other paired comparison method. The one point selecting method initially utilizes the sense of sight, and then the sense of touch. The paired comparison methods used for the comparison were the paired comparison method of Nakaya and the cyclic method of Nagasawa. The subject of the sensory evaluation was the grasping of the cylindrical pipe. In the sensory evaluation, each cylindrical pipe had the same shape and texture, and the diameter intervals of 2mm, 5mm and 10mm were used. The optimum diameters obtained by the one point selecting method were close to the diameters determined by the paired comparison method and the subjective assessment method. The measurement time of the one point selecting method was shorter than that of the other methods. The number of times an assessment was carried out by one point selecting method was less than that of the other methods. The optimum diameter obtained by the one point method, validity and reproducibility was found. The experimental results of the sensory examination show that the one point selecting method can perform sensory evaluation with fewer subjects and with a diameter interval range of 2min to 10mm.

Keywords

• one point selecting method
• paired comparison method
• sensory evaluation
• easiness of grasping
• mechanical design