Vehicle Seat Rail Layout for Reconfigurable Cabin Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle passenger compartment designs are limited in adjusting seating arrangements beyond merely adding or removing seating assemblies, lacking flexibility in optimizing space for different passenger needs and scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a rail system in the vehicle's floor, with seating assemblies coupled to it, and sensors that allow for dynamic adjustment of seating positions based on user requests and obstruction detection, enabling various seating configurations such as relaxation, social, child care, and cargo arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If seating assemblies are fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability for different passenger needs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seating assemblies are made dynamically adjustable along longitudinal rails rather than being fixed. Each seating assembly can move to different positions based on passenger needs, transforming the static interior into a dynamic, reconfigurable space that adapts to various scenarios such as relaxation, social interaction, or cargo transport modes
Solution Approach 2:
The rail system serves multiple functions: it provides guidance for seating assembly movement, acts as a structural support framework, and integrates with sensor systems for obstacle detection. This multi-functional design achieves adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
2Productivity
If seating assemblies are moved closer together, then space utilization is improved, but risk of collision with obstructions increases
Solution Approach 1:
Track sensors detect obstructions in the path of seating assemblies before movement occurs. The system performs preliminary scanning of the travel path along the rails and identifies obstacles such as cargo or passengers in advance, allowing the control system to prevent collisions by stopping or rerouting the seating assembly movement
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system continuously monitors the environment around moving seating assemblies and provides real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of movement parameters based on detected obstructions, ensuring safe operation even when seating assemblies are positioned closely together
3Reliability
If more sensors are added for obstruction detection, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor types (track sensors, proximity sensors, cameras) are merged into an integrated sensing system that shares common control and processing resources. The sensors work cooperatively to detect obstructions, with data from multiple sources combined to improve detection accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity through centralized control architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are disclosed, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods are disclosed that illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.