Reconfigurable Foot Rest for Autonomous Vehicle Seat Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, the transition from a driver-operated mode to an autonomous mode results in a loss of limb support for passengers, leading to compromised stability when seats are rotated or moved to unconventional positions, as features like pedals and steering wheels are no longer available for support.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable foot rest that can move between a stowed and an extended position, inclined to face towards the seat, providing support for passengers' lower limbs when the seat is rotated or moved to a more relaxed position, and is integrated with the vehicle's floor for coordinated movement with the seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat is repositioned toward the rear of the vehicle to allow leg extension, then passenger comfort is improved, but limb support is lost leading to reduced stability
Solution Approach 1:
The foot rest is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation to provide support in various seating configurations. The foot rest can be positioned at multiple locations and angles to maintain stability regardless of seat position.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot rest system changes its spatial parameters (position, orientation, angle) to adapt to different seat configurations. By adjusting these parameters, the foot rest maintains effective limb support whether the seat is in forward-facing or rotated positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat is rotated to an inwardly-rotated position for autonomous mode, then freedom of movement is improved, but limb support is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The foot rest is designed to serve multiple functions and adapt to multiple seat orientations. It can provide support for both forward-facing and rotated seat positions, making it a universal support element that works across different operational modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot rest dynamically repositions itself to match the rotated seat orientation, maintaining its supportive function regardless of the seat's angular position. This dynamic adaptation ensures stability is preserved even as the seat configuration changes.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed foot rest is used in traditional vehicles, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different seating positions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The foot rest transitions from a fixed to a movable design, allowing it to adapt to different seating positions while remaining relatively simple in construction. The movement mechanism adds minimal complexity but enables versatile positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot rest system incorporates adjustable parameters such as position and orientation that can be changed to match different seat configurations. This allows a single foot rest design to serve multiple seating arrangements without requiring complex manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A foot rest for use in a reconfigurable passenger cabin of a personal automotive vehicle is moveable between a first position and a second position. In the second position, a resting surface of the foot rest is inclined to face toward a seat when the seat is moved away from a forward-facing position to a rotated position. In the first position, the resting surface can be level with a floor of the passer cabin, facing toward a different seat, or facing toward the same seat as in the second position. The foot rest provides stability to a seat occupant when the seat is moved into unconventional positions, such as rotated or extreme rearward positions.