ISO 7397-1:1993

Overview

ISO 7397-1:1993 specifies the initial procedure for positioning a passenger car relative to a three‑dimensional reference system (as given in ISO 4130) for the purpose of static measurement. The procedure enables verification of the driver's forward 180° direct field of view and may be applied to other vehicle design checks that require consistent, repeatable static setups.

This part of ISO 7397 focuses on establishing vehicle attitude and locating fiducial marks so that subsequent tests (e.g., the test method in ISO 7397-2) can be conducted against a known, three‑dimensional reference. It is intended to support ergonomics, visibility verification, and regulatory or design review processes.

Key Topics

• Three-dimensional reference system: Positioning is referenced to the 3D system described in ISO 4130 to ensure consistent orientation and ground dimensions.
• Fiducial marks: The standard requires use of three or more physical points (holes, surfaces, marks or indentations) on the vehicle body, supplied or defined by the manufacturer, to align the vehicle to the reference system.
• Vehicle attitude and grounding: Requirements include a hard, flat, level test surface large enough to contain the vehicle and test equipment, and means to locate and secure the vehicle (for example jacks or supports) to maintain the defined attitude.
• Static measurement preparation: Defines the initial setup steps so that static measurements of the direct field of view and other visibility-related assessments are reproducible and objective.
• Scope and applicability: While explicitly enabling verification of the forward 180° direct field of view, the positioning procedure may be followed for other static design checks related to ergonomics and driver visibility.

Applications

The practical uses of ISO 7397-1:1993 include:

• Preparing passenger cars for static visibility and ergonomics tests in vehicle development and compliance testing.
• Establishing a repeatable test setup for human factors assessments and design reviews focusing on driver sightlines.
• Providing a common reference procedure for laboratories and manufacturers to reduce variability in static measurement results.

Benefits:

• Repeatability: Standardized positioning reduces measurement variability.
• Traceability: Use of fiducial marks and ISO 4130 reference system links test results to a documented spatial framework.
• Versatility: Procedure supports a range of static checks beyond the 180° field of view.

Related Standards

• ISO 7397-2 - Passenger cars - Verification of driver’s direct field of view - Part 2: Test method (complements Part 1 by defining the measurement procedures).
• ISO 4130:1978 - Road vehicles - Three‑dimensional reference system and fiducial marks (provides definitions and the 3D reference used by ISO 7397-1).

For engineers, test labs and regulatory bodies, ISO 7397-1:1993 is a foundational document that ensures vehicle positioning for static visibility assessments is consistent, objective and aligned with international reference systems.