Advances in automotive steering technology are motivating improved understanding of the dynamic interaction between the driver and the vehicle. This paper describes a method for identifying the dynamic properties of a driver's arms holding a steering wheel that is subjected to random torque disturbances. Data from eight test subjects are reported. A single-degree-of-freedom linear mass-damper-spring model is found to fit well to the measured torque-angle transfer functions at frequencies up to about 6 Hz. The effect of the driver opposing a steady offset torque and the effect of the driver co-contracting the muscles are investigated. Both actions are found to increase the stiffness and damping of the arms. The results contribute information about dynamic properties of the neuromuscular system in one of the most common human-machine interactions. The findings are relevant to the development of mathematical models of vehicle-driver dynamic interaction.
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