Vehicle Exit Console Repositioning for Tight-Space Door Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles face challenges in facilitating smooth entry and exit for occupants due to obstacles outside the vehicle doors and protruding console members, which hinder movement between seats, especially in tight parking spaces.
Innovation Solution
An exit assistance device with a console member, actuators, and sensors that adjust the position of seats and the console member based on door and obstacle detection, allowing for optimal door opening and minimizing the console's obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the console member is positioned in the conventional location between driver and front passenger seats, then it provides functional support and storage, but it obstructs occupant movement when doors cannot open fully due to external obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The console member is designed with movable capability along the vehicle front-rear direction through a actuating mechanism. The controller dynamically adjusts the console member's position based on sensor detection of door opening status and obstacle presence, transforming a static component into a dynamic one that adapts to varying entry/exit conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of door opening status and obstacle presence before actual entry/exit occurs. The controller proactively adjusts the console member position in advance to create optimal passage space, rather than reacting after the problem arises
2Ease of operation
If sensors and actuators are added to detect obstacles and adjust console position, then entry and exit becomes easier, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves a degree of self-service by automatically detecting door opening status and obstacle presence through sensors, then autonomously controlling the actuator to adjust the console member position without requiring manual intervention from occupants
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring door opening status and obstacle presence through sensors, then using this information to control the actuator's adjustment of the console member position, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to real-time conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An exit assistance device of a vehicle includes a console member, a first actuator, a controller, a driver-side sensor, and a front passenger-side sensor. The controller is configured to, while the vehicle is stationary, determine whether a driver's door is openable and closable based on detection by the driver-side sensor, and determine whether a front passenger's door is openable and closable based on detection by the front passenger-side sensor. The controller is configured to, when it is determined that the driver's door is not openable and closable or when it is determined that the front passenger's door is not openable and closable, move at least an upper part of the console member backward toward a rear side in a front-rear direction of the vehicle by controlling the first actuator.