Adjustable Vehicle Seats for Large Animal Collision Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle safety systems are inadequate in preventing injuries from large animal collisions, particularly due to the deformation of the vehicle roof, which can trap occupants' heads between the intruding roof and headrests.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with forward-looking remote sensors, velocity sensors, and adjustable vehicle seats that automatically adjust the seat cushion height, backrest inclination, and longitudinal position to create clearance between the occupants' heads and the potentially intruding roof, triggered by collision signals from the processing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the vehicle roof is strengthened to resist deformation during large animal collisions, then the structural strength is improved, but the weight of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of large animals using sensors (RADAR, LIDAR, cameras) and predicts collision risk before impact occurs. When a collision is imminent, the seat adjustment mechanisms are activated in advance to move seats away from the roof, creating protective clearance before the roof deforms during impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary protective mechanism (adjustable seat clearance) between the roof and occupant head. Instead of directly strengthening the roof structure, the system uses motorized seat adjustment as an intermediary element that creates a safety buffer zone, reducing the need for excessive roof reinforcement.
2Weight of moving object
If the vehicle roof is made lighter to reduce vehicle weight, then the weight is reduced, but the roof becomes more susceptible to deformation and intrusion during high-speed animal collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates seat adjustment mechanisms in advance of the collision, moving seats away from the roof to create protective clearance before impact occurs. This preliminary action compensates for the reduced structural protection provided by a lighter roof.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable seat clearance acts as an intermediary protective element that compensates for the lighter roof structure. By dynamically creating space between the roof and occupant head, the system offsets the increased vulnerability of a lighter roof without adding significant weight.
3Reliability
If motorized seat adjustment devices are added to create clearance from the roof, then occupant protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes existing multi-functional seat adjustment mechanisms (designed for comfort and positioning) and repurposes them for collision protection. The same motors and mechanisms that adjust seats for driver comfort are also used to create protective clearance during imminent collisions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing seat adjustment infrastructure to provide collision protection. The motors already present in the seat for comfort adjustment are triggered by the collision detection system to provide protective clearance, making the existing system serve a dual purpose and avoiding additional complexity.
4Length of stationary object
If the seat adjustment mechanisms are activated earlier to provide maximum clearance, then the protective clearance is maximized, but the loss of time for actual collision avoidance reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates seat adjustment at an optimized moment - early enough to create protective clearance but only after collision with a large animal is confirmed imminent. The threat assessment algorithm continuously monitors animal position, velocity, and predicted collision probability, triggering seat adjustment only when the risk threshold is exceeded, balancing clearance creation with time management.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to an apparatus and method for vehicle (1) occupant (2) protection in large animal (3) collisions. Objects forward of the host vehicle are monitored using at least one forward looking remote sensor (4) and object signals (4a) output. A velocity of the host vehicle (1) is determined and velocity signals (5a) output. The object signals (4a) and the velocity signals (5a) are processed to determine whether the host vehicle (1) unavoidably will suffer a collision with a large animal (3) while travelling at or above a threshold velocity and a collision signal is output (6a). Operation of at least one of a motor operated height adjustment device (7c), inclination adjustment device (7e) and longitudinal position adjustment device (7f) of at least one vehicle seat (7) is triggered to move at least one of a seat cushion (7a) and a backrest (7d) thereof away from a leading edge of a roof (1 a) of the host vehicle (1) in response to the collision signal (6a).