Powered Seat Actuator Control for Fatigue Reduction and Braking Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long-distance vehicle travel leads to muscle fatigue, stiffness, and ischemia due to prolonged stationary positioning, which can be exacerbated by the need to adjust seats during critical events like braking, posing safety concerns and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seating system with powered seat adjustment actuators controlled by an electrical controller that automatically alters the seating position to reduce fatigue and suspends movement during vehicle braking events, using sensors to detect braking and send signals to the controller to halt actuator movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the powered seat adjustment actuator continuously adjusts the seat position to reduce fatigue, then user comfort is improved, but safety is compromised during critical vehicle events like braking
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the seat position using powered actuators to improve comfort during normal operation, while automatically suspending adjustment during critical events like braking. This dynamic switching between automatic adjustment and suspension modes resolves the contradiction by adapting system behavior to operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from vehicle sensors (detecting braking events) to control the seat adjustment actuator. When braking is detected, the controller suspends actuator movement, thereby maintaining safety while preserving comfort benefits during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seat adjustment actuator moves the seat frequently to prevent ischemia and fatigue, then health benefits are improved, but the complexity of the system increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic seat adjustment cycles (e.g., 10-minute intervals) to prevent fatigue and ischemia without requiring continuous complex control. This periodic operation simplifies the control system while maintaining health benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs seat adjustments without requiring user intervention, using simple timing-based control logic. This self-service approach prevents fatigue and ischemia while minimizing control system complexity by eliminating the need for complex user interface and monitoring mechanisms.
3Speed
If the seat adjustment actuator operates at high speed to quickly reposition the seat, then responsiveness is improved, but the risk of injury during sudden vehicle events increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system preemptively suspends seat adjustment operation when critical events like braking are detected, preventing potential injury from high-speed actuator movement during sudden vehicle deceleration. This preliminary protective action eliminates the harmful effect while preserving the ability to operate at high speed when safe.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprises a vehicle scaling system including a seat and at least one powered seat adjustment actuator for altering the seating position formed by the seat. Additionally, the system includes a vehicle braking system including vehicle brakes and a brake pedal. The system further includes a signal sent in response to application of the vehicle brakes and/or other triggering events, such as turn signal activation and others which leads to suspension of movement of the actuator during application of the vehicle brakes.