Vehicle Seat Motion Control for Kinetosis Mitigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Motion sickness in vehicle occupants is exacerbated by performing focal visual tasks, which induce conflicting sensory inputs and unpredictable motions, leading to discomfort and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a microprocessor-based controller that measures road-surface-induced disturbances and adjusts seat motion using sensors and actuators to synchronize occupant head and eye movements with vehicle motions, mitigating specific frequencies and types of motion to reduce kinetosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the occupant performs a focal visual task in the vehicle, then productivity is improved, but motion sickness is exacerbated due to conflicting sensory inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by using sensors to detect vehicle motions and predictively adjusting seat motion before the occupant experiences discomfort. The microprocessor-based controller preemptively modifies seat position and motion characteristics to counteract harmful vibrations and movements that would otherwise cause motion sickness during focal visual tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring vehicle motions through sensors and using this information to dynamically adjust seat motion. The microprocessor-based controller receives real-time data about vehicle acceleration, vibration, and position, then modifies seat characteristics accordingly to maintain occupant comfort and prevent motion sickness while allowing productive visual work.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seat motion is controlled to mitigate kinetosis, then motion sickness is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by designing the microprocessor-based controller to perform multiple functions: it processes sensor data from various sources, predicts harmful motions using mathematical models, generates control signals for seat actuators, and adapts to different occupancy conditions. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into a single integrated controller, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary approach by introducing a microprocessor-based controller that acts as a mediator between the vehicle's motion characteristics and the occupant's experience. This intelligent intermediary processes complex sensor data and translates it into appropriate seat adjustments, simplifying the control architecture compared to direct mechanical linkages or multiple independent control systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the microprocessor-based controller adjusts seat motion in real-time, then occupant comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the seat characteristics adaptable and changeable in real-time based on actual vehicle conditions and occupancy. The microprocessor-based controller dynamically adjusts seat motion parameters such as stiffness, damping, and position according to the frequency and intensity of harmful vibrations detected by sensors, rather than maintaining fixed settings that would require continuous high-energy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements parameter changes by modifying seat characteristics (such as stiffness, damping coefficients, and position) in response to detected vehicle motions. The microprocessor-based controller adjusts these parameters dynamically to counteract harmful vibrations and motions, optimizing comfort while minimizing energy consumption by only making changes when and where needed based on real-time sensor data.
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems and methods are disclosed for anticipating the occurrence and/or mitigating the severity and/or duration of kinetosis experienced by one or more occupants of a vehicle. This is especially while the vehicle is travelling over a road surface and one or more occupants are performing tasks that require visual focus. Also, disclosed are systems and methods for predicting or otherwise determining aspects of head motion and characteristics of the eye motion of an occupant of a vehicle and of using that information to mitigate kinetosis by controlling an aspect of vehicle motion.