Vehicle Seat Morphing Actuator for Lateral Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deep seats and stiff bolsters, while effective in reducing lateral acceleration effects, can cause discomfort during normal driving conditions due to increased lateral support, necessitating a solution for selective provision of support only during high lateral acceleration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating shape memory material actuators within vehicle seats that morph in response to sensor data, specifically contracting to increase the seat's dimension and provide lateral support during high lateral acceleration, and returning to a normal configuration otherwise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If deep seats and stiff bolsters are used, then lateral support is improved, but occupant comfort deteriorates during normal driving conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The seat bolster uses shape memory alloy actuators that can dynamically change their stiffness and support characteristics. During normal driving, the actuators remain relaxed allowing soft comfort, while during high lateral acceleration they activate to provide stiff lateral support. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between needing strong lateral support and maintaining comfort during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The shape memory alloy material changes its physical parameters (stiffness, shape) in response to temperature changes or electrical activation. This allows the seat bolster to transition between soft and stiff states, providing lateral support only when needed while maintaining comfort during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between lateral support strength and occupant comfort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If shape memory material actuators are used to provide selective lateral support, then lateral support is improved only when needed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory alloy actuators are self-activating based on sensor input through simple control logic. The system monitors lateral acceleration and automatically activates the actuators when needed without complex control mechanisms. This self-service approach provides selective lateral support while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical actuators (motors, cylinders, linkages) are replaced with shape memory alloy actuators that use thermal or electrical fields to produce mechanical motion. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while achieving the same function of providing selective lateral support, as shape memory materials directly convert energy to mechanical deformation without intermediate mechanical components.
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
Enhances occupant comfort by providing selective lateral support only when needed, maintaining comfort during normal driving conditions and efficiently using power without complex mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator can be configured such that, when an activation input is provided to the shape memory material connecting member, the shape memory material connecting member contracts
Implementation Method 2
Each of the plurality of actuator blocks can include at least one sliding surface. Each sliding surface can be configured to slide along a corresponding sliding surface of one of the other actuator blocks
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat can be configured to selectively provide support to a vehicle occupant in conditions when lateral acceleration is experienced. An actuator can be located within the vehicle seat. When activated, the actuator cause a portion of the seat to morph into an activated configuration. The actuator can be activated based on vehicle speed, steering angle, and/or lateral acceleration. The actuator can include end members connected by a shape memory material connecting member. Actuator blocks with sliding surfaces can be located between the end members. The actuator can be configured such that, in response to an activation input, the shape memory material connecting member contracts, which draws the end members toward each other and causes corresponding sliding surfaces of the plurality of actuator blocks to engage and slide relative to each other. In this way, the actuator morphs into an activated configuration in which its overall height increases.