The laboratory was established in 1980. In October 2015, it was recognized as a Key Laboratory of the then General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine. In January 2021, it was designated as a Key Laboratory of Human Factors and Ergonomics under the State Administration for Market Regulation. It is an integral part of the national market regulation scientific innovation system and the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI), serving as an innovative platform for advancing significant scientific research and producing high-level research outcomes in the field of human factors and ergonomics.

The laboratory is primarily dedicated to systematic research and key technological breakthroughs on cutting-edge and fundamental scientific issues in human factors and ergonomics. It aims to gather and cultivate interdisciplinary and comprehensive outstanding scientific talent, facilitate high-level academic exchanges in the field, enhance China”s ergonomic design capabilities, improve user experience, stimulate consumer potential, support the shift in quality evaluation from pursuing “pass rates” to “satisfaction rates”, and promote high-quality development.

Focusing on the interaction between humans, machines, and the environment, the laboratory studies the influence and role of humans within systems, as well as how to design and improve products and environments based on human physiological and psychological characteristics. This ensures optimal coordination among humans, machines, and the environment, achieving the goals of “safety, health, comfort, and efficiency”. The laboratory currently has three research directions and nine research units (as shown in Figure 1). It covers an area of over 2,000 square meters, with instrument and equipment assets valued at more than 70 million RMB. It is equipped with large-scale body scanners, a full set of biomechanical testing equipment, motion capture systems, perceptual evaluation systems, eye trackers, EEG devices, multimodal synchronous experimental acquisition and analysis systems, and virtual reality and simulation evaluation systems. This enables comprehensive experimental research and evaluation capabilities for human factors such as body morphology, strength, movement, perception, cognition, user experience, and environmental comfort. In April 2011, the laboratory passed the competency accreditation review conducted by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS).

The laboratory hosts China’s largest and most comprehensive human characteristics database, featuring the widest sample age range and the most extensive geographical distribution. The database includes over 20 million data points on Chinese human characteristics, such as body dimensions, strength, the range of joint motion, vision, hearing, touch, cognition, and thermal perception, which are commonly used in industrial design.

From 1986 to 1987, with the support from the then State Science and Technology Commission, the laboratory organized the first national survey of adult body dimensions, collecting samples from over 30 regions across China. More than 22,000 adults (aged 18-60) were measured, with 73 body dimension parameters recorded per sample. This research led to the development of national standards such as GB/T 10000, Human dimensions of Chinese adults and GB/T 2428, Facial dimensions of adults.

From 2006 to 2007, supported by a key national science and technology infrastructure project, the laboratory conducted the first national survey of minor body dimensions, collecting samples from over 30 regions. More than 20,000 minors (aged 4-17) were measured, with 139 parameters recorded per sample. This resulted in the development of national standards such as GB/T 26158, Human dimensions of Chinese minors and GB/T 26160, Head and facial dimensions of Chinese minors.

From 2015 to 2018, supported by a national foundational science and technology project, the laboratory collected samples from 32 regions across China, gathering over 26,000 samples and more than 4.5 million data points on human morphological dimensions, biomechanics, vision, hearing, touch, and other human characteristics. Currently, based on Chinese human characteristics data, the laboratory has developed a series of human models, head models, foot models, and hand models. The data from the Chinese human characteristics database are widely used in various industries, including apparel, furniture, automotive, information technology, construction, transportation, military, aerospace, and more, providing scientific data support for product design and development.

Since the 10th Five-Year Plan period, the laboratory has undertaken over 10 national and provincial-level scientific research projects, obtained more than 20 patents, secured over 60 software copyrights, and published more than 200 scientific papers. The laboratory holds the secretariat of the National Standardization Technical Committee on Ergonomics (SAC/TC 7) and has organized the development of nearly 100 national standards on human factors and ergonomics. The laboratory’s research outcomes have been widely applied in industries such as aerospace, high-speed rail, automotive, home appliances, furniture, and information technology, generating significant social benefits.

Services Offered by the Laboratory

- Ergonomic laboratory’s design, construction, accreditation, and testing integrated solutions

- Human characteristics data sampling, measurement, and application technical services

- Ergonomic testing and certification technical services for products such as office chairs, desks, sofas, mattresses, and displays

- Ergonomic design and evaluation technical services for intelligent interactive products

- Human factors and ergonomic evaluation technical services for visual display terminals/lighting products

- Ergonomic design and evaluation technical services for workplaces and living spaces

- Human factors and ergonomic design and evaluation technical services for smart home/furniture products

- Thermal comfort evaluation technical services

- Noise and sound quality evaluation technical services

- Driving safety ergonomics research and evaluation technical services

- User experience research and evaluation technical services for new display products such as VR/AR

- Human factors and ergonomics research and evaluation technical services for children’s products

- Human factors and ergonomics research and evaluation technical services for elderly products

- Human factors and ergonomics technical training

Contact Information

Phone: 010-58811661

Email: zhaochy@cnis.ac.cn