Vehicle Magnetic Levitation Seating System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seating arrangements are inflexible and can cause discomfort during vehicle maneuvers due to the inability to relocate furniture without detachment and reattachment, and occupants may be disturbed by changes in inertia, especially when performing tasks requiring attention to detail or fine motor skills.
Innovation Solution
A seating system featuring an electromagnetic array on the vehicle floor and a chair with magnets, allowing the chair to levitate and move freely or maintain position through controlled magnetic fields, using a processor and memory to direct magnetic waves for precise movement and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If furniture is affixed to the vehicle floor, then the furniture remains stable and in fixed position, but the furniture cannot be relocated without detachment and reattachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastening system (screws, bolts, clips) with an electromagnetic field-based system. Electromagnets embedded in the vehicle floor interact with magnetic elements in the furniture to provide both attachment and relocation capabilities through electrical control, eliminating the need for physical detachment and reattachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The furniture positioning system transitions from a static fixed state to a dynamic controllable state. The electromagnetic array can be activated or deactivated to change the furniture's state between fixed (attached) and mobile (relocated), allowing the system to adapt to different operational requirements through electrical control rather than mechanical intervention.
2Ease of operation
If furniture is affixed to the vehicle, then the furniture maintains its position, but occupants are disturbed by vehicle accelerations and changes in inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary counteracting forces through the electromagnetic array to compensate for inertial effects during vehicle maneuvers. When acceleration is detected or anticipated, the electromagnets adjust their field strength to create counter-forces that offset the inertial disturbances, preventing occupant discomfort before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor vehicle motion and occupant position, then adjust the electromagnetic field parameters in real-time. This closed-loop control allows the furniture to dynamically respond to vehicle accelerations, maintaining occupant comfort while preserving furniture stability through continuous adjustment of magnetic forces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the electromagnetic array is used to levitate and move the chair, then the chair can be freely repositioned and stabilized, but the system complexity increases with processors and control modules
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic array serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides levitation, positioning, stabilization, and even sensing capabilities through a single integrated system. The same electromagnets that generate lifting forces also create lateral forces for movement and provide stabilizing forces, eliminating the need for separate mechanical actuators for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing electrical infrastructure and processing capabilities to control the electromagnetic array, leveraging available resources rather than requiring completely independent control systems. The processor can utilize existing vehicle sensors and communication networks to manage the complex electromagnetic field adjustments.
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
Enables flexible positioning of seating within the vehicle, reduces occupant disturbance during maneuvers by maintaining stability and allowing precise control over the chair's movement, enhancing comfort and usability during tasks that require focus.
Implementation Method 1
The vehicle includes an electromagnetic array featured on a floor of the vehicle. The chair includes a base having a plurality of magnets featured thereon. The vehicle generates signals for the plurality of electromagnets to generate a wave and impart a force on the chair.
Implementation Method 2
The array control module can also include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate one or more control signals for the electromagnetic array to produce a wave in the magnetic field that moves across the electromagnetic array in the determined direction and thereby imparts the force on the chair via the one or more magnets in the determined direction.
Data Source
AI summary
Various seating arrangements for a vehicle are described. Generally, the vehicle includes an electromagnetic array featured on a floor of the vehicle. The chair includes base having a plurality of magnets featured thereon. The vehicle generates signals for the electromagnetic array to generate a wave and impart a force on the chair in a determined direction via the plurality of magnets.