Reconfigurable Passenger Seating Layout With Rail-Guided Seat Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle passenger compartment designs are limited in their ability to dynamically adjust seating arrangements, primarily focusing on adding or removing seating assemblies to change capacity, without offering flexible configurations that cater to different user needs or scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a rail system with sensors and actuators in the passenger compartment, allowing for the adjustable positioning of seating assemblies, including swiveling, translation, and angular adjustments, controlled by a controller that communicates with a user interface to change seating arrangements based on user requests, occupancy status, and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If seating assemblies are removed or stowed to adjust seating capacity, then the seating capacity can be changed, but the flexibility of seating arrangements is limited and space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic seating arrangements where individual seats can be independently moved along rails, rotated, and adjusted to various positions. The seating system transitions from static configurations to dynamic reconfigurable arrangements, allowing seats to be positioned anywhere along the longitudinal axis and oriented at different angles to create various seating patterns including facing pairs, groupings, and open spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating system is divided into independent modular seat units that can be individually controlled and positioned. Each seat assembly includes independent actuators for movement, rotation, and positioning, allowing granular control over the arrangement rather than moving entire rows or sections as a unit. This segmentation enables precise customization of seating configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple actuators and sensors are added to enable dynamic seating adjustment, then seating arrangement flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal actuators and control mechanisms that perform multiple functions. The actuators enable both linear movement along rails and rotational adjustment, while the control system handles seat positioning, rotation angles, and coordination with occupancy detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components for each adjustment type.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating system incorporates occupancy sensors that automatically detect when seats are occupied and use this information to autonomously plan and execute rearrangement sequences. The system self-manages the complexity of coordinating multiple actuators by using sensor feedback to determine optimal configurations and trigger appropriate adjustment sequences without requiring complex external control.
3Ease of operation
If real-time monitoring and remote control of seating arrangements are implemented, then user convenience is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic occupancy detection rather than continuous monitoring, with sensors checking for presence at regular intervals or triggered by weight changes. Communication with external devices occurs periodically or on-demand rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining real-time operational capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from occupancy sensors and position sensors to intelligently manage energy consumption. The system activates actuators and communication only when configuration changes are needed, uses feedback loops to verify successful positioning, and enters low-power states when no adjustments are required, optimizing the balance between functionality and energy use.
Data Source
AI summary
A transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are provided, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.