Adaptive Seat Damping Control for Aircraft Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotorcraft and aircraft experience dynamic excitations during flight, leading to discomfort and potential injuries due to vibrations transmitted through the seat to the occupant.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that adjusts the stiffness or damping of an adaptive vibration damper coupled between the seat and the vehicle frame using signals from weight sensors and movement sensors to control the frequency, amplitude, or damping parameters of the vibrational movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an adaptive vibration damper is used to reduce vibrations transmitted to the occupant, then comfort and safety are improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and closed-loop control system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop control system where movement sensors detect vibrational movements of the seat and vehicle frame, weight sensors measure occupant weight, and the control processor continuously adjusts the adaptive vibration damper's stiffness and damping characteristics based on this feedback to optimize vibration reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration damper transitions from a static component to a dynamic one, with its stiffness and damping characteristics being continuously adjusted in real-time based on measured vibrational parameters and occupant weight, allowing the system to adapt to varying flight conditions and occupant loads
2Manufacturing precision
If the stiffness and damping of the vibration damper are continuously adjusted based on real-time sensor data, then vibration control precision is improved, but the energy consumption increases due to active control operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the physical parameters (stiffness and damping) of the vibration damper based on measured vibrational characteristics and occupant weight, allowing precise adaptation to different flight conditions and vibration scenarios while maintaining optimal control performance
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors (weight sensor and movement sensors) are integrated to capture comprehensive vibration data, then measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control processor serves multiple functions: it processes data from weight sensors, processes data from movement sensors, determines optimal stiffness and damping characteristics, and controls the adaptive vibration damper, thereby reducing overall system complexity through functional integration despite the presence of multiple sensors
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the transmission of vibrations to the occupant, enhancing comfort during normal flight and reducing the likelihood of injury during emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting at least one of a stiffness or a damping of an adaptive vibration damper coupled between the seat back and the vehicle frame to control at least one of a frequency or an amplitude of the time-dependent vibrational movement of the seat back or the seat pan
Data Source
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AI summary
An active system and a computer-implemented method for reducing vibrations of seats in a vehicle is described. The system and method adjust a damping and/or a stiffness of a vibration damper (104) based on system input signals from the vehicle or seat system. The signals include one or more of a signal associated with a user weight, a signal associated with time-dependent movement of a vehicle frame, and a signal associated with time-dependent movement of a seat back (114) or a seat pan (116). The damping or the stiffness are adjusted by a closed loop control.