Configurable Aerospace Seat for Consistent Eye Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aerospace vehicle seats lack adjustable and reconfigurable designs to accommodate varying anthropometric dimensions of occupants, leading to suboptimal positioning for viewing vehicle displays and controls, especially under high g-force conditions, and inadequate lateral support during landings.

Innovation Solution

A conformal seat insert system with a contoured support surface, adjustable components like the seat pan, headrest, and leg support, and a method of generating custom seat inserts based on individual torso scans to establish a consistent crew reference point for optimal eye positioning and lateral restraint.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed seat pan is used, then the seat structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the eye position relative to vehicle displays and controls varies widely among different occupants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeye position consistencyVSAvoidseat structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat pan is made adjustable with multiple position settings to accommodate different occupant sizes. The seat pan can be dynamically repositioned along the longitudinal axis to maintain consistent eye position relative to displays and controls, transforming a static structure into an adaptable one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seat assembly is divided into separable components including the seat pan, seat back, and base structure. This segmentation allows the seat pan to be independently adjusted and repositioned without affecting the entire seat structure, enabling adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If heel locks are used for flail restraint, then lateral support during landing is provided, but significant time is required to release the locks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflail restraint effectivenessVSAvoidlock release time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical heel lock system is replaced with a flail restraint system that uses a different mechanical principle - a flexible restraint that passively limits lateral movement during landing without requiring active locking or unlocking mechanisms, thereby eliminating release time while maintaining restraint effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sizes of seat structural components are used, then accommodation for different anthropometric dimensions is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanthropometric accommodationVSAvoidcomponent variety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single base seat structure serves multiple functions by accommodating different occupant sizes through adjustment mechanisms rather than requiring multiple specialized components. The universal seat design uses adjustable parameters (seat pan position, seat back angle) to adapt to various anthropometric dimensions without increasing component variety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of changing physical components, the invention adjusts parameters of existing components - such as seat pan longitudinal position, seat back recline angle, and cushion density distribution - to accommodate different occupant sizes, maintaining component simplicity while achieving anthropometric adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If fully conformal contouring is used, then lateral support is provided, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral supportVSAvoidseat manufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of fully conformal contouring throughout the entire seat, lateral support is provided locally at critical areas such as the seat pan edges and lumbar region. This selective contouring approach provides necessary lateral support during high g-force conditions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity for the majority of the seat structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11827364B2Configurable vehicle seat and method therefor

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

An adjustable vehicle seat including a seat frame forming a seat back, the seat frame being configured to couple with an aerospace vehicle, and a seat pan coupled to the seat frame, where one or more of the seat frame and the seat pan is configured to couple the seat pan to the seat frame in one of a plurality of positions relative to the seat frame so that an eye position of a seat occupant relative to instrumentation within the aerospace vehicle is decoupled from a size of the seat occupant.