Vehicle Seat Airbag Assembly for Submarining Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, traditional seat safety features are ineffective when seats are not fixed to a single location or orientation, leading to submarining injuries during impacts, as they cannot properly restrain occupants in varying positions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat assembly with an airbag system integrated into the seat design, where the airbag is deployed between the seat's thigh support region and rear portion, adjusting the seat's angle to prevent submarining by inflating and increasing the support surface's angle during impacts, and utilizing a pre-crash detection system to activate the airbag before an impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional seat safety features are used in autonomous vehicles with moving seats, then the seat design is simpler, but the safety effectiveness deteriorates when seats are not fixed to a single location or orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag assembly is integrated into the seat structure and can dynamically adjust its inflation state based on seat orientation and impact conditions. The airbag transitions from a static component to a dynamic safety mechanism that adapts to varying seat positions and impact vectors, maintaining reliability across multiple operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag assembly serves multiple safety functions: it prevents submarining by providing thigh support, acts as a cushioning element during impacts, and adapts to different seat orientations. This multi-functional component addresses various safety requirements simultaneously, improving overall safety effectiveness without requiring separate systems for each function.
2Reliability
If an airbag assembly is integrated into the seat member to prevent submarining, then safety effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag assembly is merged with the seat member structure, specifically integrating it into the thigh support region. This combination eliminates the need for separate submarining prevention devices and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining enhanced safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag assembly is nested within the seat member structure, with the airbag contained within the thigh support region. This nested configuration allows the airbag to be housed within the existing seat geometry, minimizing additional space requirements and reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If the airbag is inflated to increase the support surface angle, then submarining prevention is improved, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is pre-positioned within the thigh support region in a deflated state, ready for rapid inflation when needed. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for complex deployment mechanisms and reduces the energy required for inflation, as the airbag structure is already in place and only requires pressurization rather than full deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag system changes the physical parameters of the support surface by inflating to increase the angle. This parameter change provides the necessary occupant restraint to prevent submarining while using controlled energy input only when the angle adjustment is required, rather than maintaining constant energy consumption.
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 integrated airbag system effectively prevents submarining by maintaining the occupant's upright position during impacts, enhancing safety in dynamic vehicle environments by adjusting the seat's angle and deploying the airbag before impact, thus reducing injury risks.
Implementation Method 1
The airbag is operable between inflated and deflated conditions. The support surface is disposed at a second angle that is greater than the initial inclined angle when the airbag is in the inflated condition.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat assembly includes a seat member having a support surface, wherein the support surface is disposed at an inclined angle from a rear portion to a front portion thereof. A seat cover covers the support surface. An airbag assembly is disposed below the seat cover at the front portion of the support surface at a thigh support region. The airbag is operable between inflated and deflated conditions, wherein the airbag assembly increases the inclined angle of the support surface when the airbag assembly is in the inflated condition.