Aircraft Leg Restraint System with Deployment Path Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leg flail devices for side facing seats in aircraft are ineffective when the lower leg is not properly positioned prior to deployment, as the deploying panel may engage the leg, causing further injury.
Innovation Solution
A leg restraint system that includes a deployable leg restraint device, a sensor to monitor the deployment path, and an indicator to convey compliance status, allowing the occupant to reposition their leg if necessary before deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the leg restraint device deploys automatically during sudden deceleration, then the lower leg is constrained to prevent injury, but the deploying panel may engage the lower leg if improperly positioned causing further injury
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the lower leg position in the deployment path before the restraint device deploys. The sensor monitors whether the lower leg is in the deployment path during normal operation, and the indicator alerts the occupant to reposition their leg beforehand, preventing harmful engagement during deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to the occupant about their leg position relative to the deployment path. The sensor continuously monitors the deployment path and the indicator communicates compliance status to the occupant, enabling them to adjust their position to ensure safe deployment
2Reliability
If the lower leg position is monitored continuously, then the deployment safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring function is extracted as a separate sensor system independent from the deployment mechanism itself. The sensor monitors the deployment path and communicates with the controller, which then activates the indicator, separating the detection, control, and indication functions into distinct components
Data Source
AI summary
A leg restraint system for a side facing seat provided in an aircraft or other conveyance. The system includes a leg restraining device including a panel configured to deploy along a deployment path when a sensed condition is met, a sensor configured to monitor the deployment path, and an indicator configured to indicate information regarding the monitored deployment path. A controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and indicator receives information and instructs the indicator to indicate a compliance status of the leg restraining device. In embodiments, an object positioned in the deployment path of the leg restraining device causes a noncompliant status to be indicated to a seated occupant thereby causing corrective action to be taken such that the leg restraining device can be operated as intended.