Automatic Seat Adjustment via Passenger Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passengers, especially children and those unfamiliar with the controls, struggle to adjust aircraft seats properly for comfort and safety, and some passengers are reluctant to use the complex button systems to adjust their seats.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize sensors, such as image or infrared sensors, to detect a passenger's size and shape, and a processor to automatically adjust the seat settings to optimal positions for comfort and safety, including predefined positions for taxi, takeoff, and landing, and cruising altitudes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual seat adjustment controls are provided, then seat adjustability is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates for children and unfamiliar passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The seat automatically detects passenger dimensions via sensors and self-adjusts to optimal positions without requiring manual operation. The system serves itself by using embedded sensors to capture passenger data and autonomously control seat mechanisms, eliminating the need for passengers to understand or operate complex controls.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical controls are replaced with an automated system using optical sensors, image processing algorithms, and electronic actuators. The system captures passenger silhouette data, processes it through algorithms to determine body dimensions, and electronically controls seat positioning mechanisms to achieve optimal configuration automatically.
2Ease of operation
If automated sensor systems are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system serves multiple functions: capturing passenger silhouette, determining body dimensions, identifying seat position requirements, and verifying adjustment completion. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a unified automated seat adjustment platform.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of direct physical measurement, the system creates an optical copy or silhouette of the passenger using sensors. This digital representation is then processed to extract dimensional information, avoiding the need for complex physical measurement devices while achieving accurate passenger characterization.
3Ease of operation
If seat positions are optimized for comfort, then passenger comfort is improved, but safety may be compromised during critical flight phases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines safe seat positions for different flight phases (taxi, takeoff, landing versus cruise) and automatically applies the appropriate configuration. By having safety protocols pre-programmed and automatically executed based on flight phase detection, the system ensures safety requirements are met before comfort optimization occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat system dynamically adjusts its configuration based on real-time flight phase conditions. During critical phases (taxi, takeoff, landing), the system maintains restrictive safe positions, while during cruise phases, it transitions to comfort-optimized positions. This dynamic adaptation ensures safety is never compromised while maximizing comfort when appropriate.
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 ensures that passengers, regardless of their size or familiarity with the seat controls, can enjoy increased comfort and safety by automatically adjusting the seat to optimal positions based on their dimensions and the aircraft's state.
Implementation Method 1
A method and system that utilize sensors, such as image or infrared sensors, to detect a passenger's size and shape
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for automatically adjusting settings and positions of fully adjustable seats are disclosed herein. The method including receiving, by a processor, data from at least one sensor that is operatively coupled to the processor, the data including a representation of a size and a shape of a passenger, identifying, by the processor, at least one of the size or the shape of the passenger based on the data, determining, by the processor, at least one determined seat position for the adjustable seat based at least in part on one of the size or the shape of the passenger, and sending, by the processor, instructions to the adjustable seat to adjust the adjustable seat to a first determined seat position.