Dynamic Seat Actuator Speed Control for Fatigue Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long-distance vehicle travel leads to muscle fatigue, stiffness, and ischemia due to prolonged stationary positioning, causing discomfort and potential health issues like blood clot formation, for which existing seating systems do not provide adequate solutions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seating system equipped with powered seat adjustment actuators that dynamically adjust seating positions at slow speeds to reduce fatigue, incorporating sensors and controllers to automatically alter movement profiles based on driving conditions, ensuring comfort and circulation improvement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seat adjustment actuator moves the seat continuously to reduce fatigue, then blood circulation improves and comfort increases, but during braking or critical events the seat movement creates safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting critical events (braking, airbag deployment) and preemptively suspending seat adjustment movements before they can create safety hazards. The controller monitors vehicle status signals and automatically pauses actuator operation during these events, preventing potential conflicts between seat movement and safety requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring vehicle status signals from sensors that detect braking, airbag deployment, and other critical events. This feedback loop allows the controller to real-time adjust actuator operation, suspending movements during critical events and resuming them when safe, thereby maintaining both safety and automatic adjustment functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the seat adjustment actuator moves slowly to reduce fatigue, then comfort improves, but the movement may cause discomfort or startle the user if too fast
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by varying the actuator speed based on operational context. During normal automatic adjustment, the actuator moves slowly to ensure comfort. During manual adjustment or when rapid repositioning is needed, the system can increase speed while still maintaining smooth motion characteristics. This dynamic speed adjustment optimizes both comfort and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the speed parameter of the actuator based on different operational modes and user preferences. The controller can adjust movement speed within a range, allowing slow movements for comfort during automatic adjustment and faster movements when needed, while maintaining smooth acceleration and deceleration profiles to avoid startling the user.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors and control systems are added to ensure safety during braking, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies multi-functionality by using a single controller that handles both the seat adjustment control and the safety monitoring functions. The controller integrates multiple sensor inputs (brake status, airbag deployment, seatbelt status) and coordinates actuator operation based on these inputs, eliminating the need for separate dedicated safety systems and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the safety monitoring and seat adjustment control functions into a single integrated control unit. By combining these functions and sharing sensor resources, the system achieves high reliability through comprehensive monitoring while minimizing device complexity through functional integration and resource sharing.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating system is disclosed having a seat and at least one powered seat adjustment actuator for altering the seating position formed by the seat. A controller dynamically adjusts the speed of movement of said seat back based on comparing at least one speed parameter from said first series of speed parameters with a first smooth movement speed projection and dynamically adjusting a first control signal to said first powered seat adjustment actuator to converge the speed of movement toward or equal to said first smooth movement speed projection.