National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Vehicle Ancillary Loads Reduction

Thermal Manikin and Modeling

Since a key requirement of the vehicle ancillary loads reduction effort is to maintain or enhance passenger comfort, NREL works to understand how advanced cooling techniques will affect human thermal comfort. Researchers have developed a portfolio of thermal comfort tools, including an ADvanced Automotive Manikin (ADAM), human thermal physiological model, and human thermal comfort empirical model to assess comfort in automobile passenger compartments. The use of a manikin is not only more efficient than using human subjects, it makes for a constant test platform, making repeatable scientific testing possible, when and where we need it.

These tools may also prove useful in applications beyond automotive design.