Predictive Seat Backrest Vibration for Occupant Balance Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile object control systems, such as those disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-155893 A, primarily notify the driver through vibrations on the steering wheel, failing to alert other occupants about impending driving operations, which can lead to loss of balance during travel.
Innovation Solution
A mobile object control system featuring multiple backrest portions with integrated vibrating elements and a prediction unit that anticipates acceleration, allowing the drive control unit to adjust vibrations based on the direction and magnitude of predicted acceleration, thereby warning all occupants before the acceleration occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If vibration notification is provided only on the steering wheel to the driver, then the driver receives notification of driving operations, but other occupants do not receive notification and may lose balance
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration notification system is segmented into multiple independent vibrating portions distributed across different backrest portions. Each vibrating portion can be independently controlled to vibrate based on predicted acceleration, ensuring that notification is provided to occupants at various locations within the mobile object rather than concentrating notification only at the driver's position.
Solution Approach 2:
Different vibrating portions are assigned different vibration characteristics (intensity, timing) based on their local position and the predicted acceleration direction. This allows tailored notification for each occupant zone, with varying vibration amounts according to the direction of predicted acceleration, ensuring appropriate local notification coverage.
2Loss of information
If vibration notification is provided to all occupants, then all occupants are notified of driving operations, but the system complexity and number of vibrating components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest portions serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for occupants and simultaneously serve as mounting locations for vibration notification components. This multi-functionality allows the notification system to utilize existing structural elements rather than requiring separate dedicated notification hardware for each occupant position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting future acceleration before it occurs and activating vibrating portions in advance. This predictive approach allows the notification system to prepare and alert occupants before actual driving operations commence, reducing the need for more complex real-time reaction systems.
3Ease of operation
If vibration amount is uniform across all backrest portions, then the system is simple to control, but occupants in different positions receive identical notification regardless of acceleration direction
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration notification system transitions from static uniform vibration to dynamic adaptive vibration. The vibration amount of each vibrating portion is dynamically adjusted based on the predicted acceleration direction and magnitude, allowing the system to adapt notification characteristics to the specific driving operation and occupant position while maintaining relatively simple control through centralized prediction and coordination.
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 effectively notifies each occupant about the mobile object's driving operations, helping them prepare and maintain balance by varying vibration intensities and directions according to predicted accelerations, ensuring all passengers are aware of impending movements.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of vibrating portions provided for the individual backrest portions; a drive control unit configured to drive the vibrating portions based on the predicted acceleration before the acceleration occurs
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile object control system includes a plurality of backrest portions, a plurality of vibrating portions, a prediction unit, and a drive control unit. The backrest portions are arranged side by side in the lateral direction so as to be able to support the back of an occupant on the mobile object. The vibrating portion is provided on each of the plurality of backrest portions. The prediction unit predicts acceleration occurring in the mobile object.Based on the predicted acceleration, the drive control unit drives the vibrating portion before acceleration occurs. The drive control unit varies the vibration amounts of the plurality of vibrating portions according to the direction of the predicted acceleration.