Vehicle Seat Collision Avoidance via Radar Position Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle interior systems lack effective methods to prevent collisions between adjustable seat assemblies and other components or obstacles within the vehicle cabin, which can occur during adjustments, leading to interference and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle interior system comprising sensors and a controller that map the positions of seat assemblies and obstacles within a predetermined coordinate system, using RADAR sensors and motors to adjust the components' positions to avoid collisions, ensuring safe and efficient reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If seat assemblies are made adjustable and reconfigurable to improve ingress and egress, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of collision with other components or obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of obstacles and other seat positions before adjustment occurs. The sensor array detects obstacles and the controller predicts potential collision paths before the seat assembly begins moving, allowing preventive action to be taken before the harmful event occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors seat position via sensors and compares it against detected obstacle positions. This feedback loop allows the controller to detect when a seat is approaching an obstacle and automatically adjust or stop the movement to prevent collision, enabling the seat to remain adjustable while avoiding harmful interactions.
2Reliability
If sensors and mapping systems are added to detect obstacles and prevent collisions, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor array serves multiple functions: detecting obstacles, determining seat position, and providing data for collision prediction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing sensor infrastructure and controller already present in modern vehicles for other functions (such as occupancy detection or ambient lighting) and repurposes them for collision prevention. This self-service approach allows the system to gain enhanced safety capabilities without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
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 system effectively prevents collisions by accurately mapping and adjusting the positions of seat assemblies and other components, ensuring safe and efficient reconfiguration of the vehicle interior, thereby enhancing user safety and reducing the risk of damage.
Implementation Method 1
The first sensor is a RADAR sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
A vehicle interior system including a first seat assembly, disposed within a vehicle cabin, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller is provided. The first and second sensors may each be disposed within the vehicle cabin. The first sensor may be configured to obtain first signals indicative of a positioning of an obstacle within a predetermined coordinate system. The second sensor may be configured to obtain second signals indicative of a positioning of the first seat assembly within the predetermined coordinate system. The controller may be configured to receive the signals from the first sensor and to map a portion of the obstacle based on the first signals and relative to a portion of the first seat assembly within the predetermined coordinate system.