Ovoid Seating Assembly for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seating assemblies do not adequately accommodate the need for forward-facing rear passengers in autonomous vehicles with reconfigurable interiors, lacking innovative designs that allow for adjustable and comfortable seating configurations.
Innovation Solution
A seating assembly comprising a base assembly, a shell assembly with an integral armrest and headrest wing, and a control system that allows the shell assembly to rotate and recline, providing adjustable positions and a secure restraint system, enabling comfortable seating for passengers in autonomous vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional seating assembly with fixed seat base and seatback is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate reconfigurable interiors or allow forward passengers to face the rear
Solution Approach 1:
The shell assembly is made rotatable relative to the base assembly through a control system, allowing the seating configuration to dynamically change between forward-facing and rear-facing orientations. This dynamic capability enables the seat to adapt to different vehicle interior configurations while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating assembly is divided into distinct functional modules: a base assembly and a shell assembly that can rotate independently. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized separately while enabling reconfigurable seating arrangements through their relative movement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shell assembly is made rotatable to allow reconfigurable seating, then seating versatility improves, but the structural complexity and control mechanisms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls both the rotation of the shell assembly and the recline of the seatback. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining seating versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest is integrally formed with the shell assembly, merging two components into one. This integration simplifies the structure by reducing the number of separate parts and assembly steps, while the shell assembly itself serves multiple functions including structural support, rotation, and headrest support.
3Ease of manufacture
If the armrest and headrest wing are integrally formed with the shell assembly, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the design flexibility for independent adjustment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The integral formation of the armrest and headrest wing with the shell assembly allows these components to move together as a unified structure during rotation and recline operations. This approach transfers the adjustment flexibility from individual component movement to overall assembly movement, maintaining design versatility while simplifying manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating assembly comprising a base assembly including an inner base shell and an outer base shell and defining a recess, a shell assembly operably coupled to the base assembly, wherein a bottom of the shell assembly nests within the recess, at least one armrest integrally formed with the shell assembly, and at least one headrest wing integrally formed with the shell assembly.