Vehicle Seat Control System for Autonomous Driving Mode Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, switching from autonomous driving mode to manual driving mode requires drivers to redirect their mental faculties and physical orientation, which can be time-consuming and may not always result in a suitable driver being available for manual control.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat control system that automatically adjusts seat positions and facing directions to align the driver with the vehicle's travel direction upon switching from autonomous to manual driving mode, and optionally changes other seats' positions and orientations without interfering with the driver's seat, using a control unit and actuator system to facilitate a seamless transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat arrangement is changed to a face-to-face seat arrangement in autonomous driving mode, then the driver can face an occupant in a seat on the vehicle rear side, but the driver needs time to redirect mental faculties and adjust physical orientation when switching to manual driving mode
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically adjusts the driver's seat position and facing direction to the predetermined driving position before the driver needs to take control, eliminating the orientation time penalty. The seat is preliminarily positioned in the correct orientation so that when manual driving mode is activated, the driver is already in the appropriate seating configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat arrangement system dynamically changes between different configurations based on the driving mode. The seats are designed to be movable with adjustable positions and facing directions, allowing the system to transition from a face-to-face arrangement in autonomous mode to a forward-facing driving position in manual mode.
2Ease of operation
If the driver's seat is rotated to face the vehicle traveling direction when switching from autonomous to manual driving mode, then the driver can quickly become accustomed to vehicle behavior, but the other seats may interfere with the first seat during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
Before rotating the driver's seat to the forward-facing position, the control unit preliminarily adjusts the positions of other seats to ensure they will not interfere with the rotation path. This preliminary positioning of other seats prevents collision and allows smooth seat rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system resolves potential interference by adjusting seats along multiple dimensions - not only rotating the driver's seat but also moving other seats in position and orientation. This multi-dimensional adjustment ensures clear rotation paths while achieving the desired driver-facing configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a mode switching unit configured to switch a driving mode of a vehicle from a first driving mode to a second driving mode different from the first driving mode, or from the second driving mode to the first driving mode; and a changing unit configured to (i) change a position of a first seat of the vehicle, in a case in which the first driving mode is switched to the second driving mode by the mode switching unit, and (ii) change the position of the first seat to a position which is occupied by a second seat different from the first seat during the second driving mode, in a case in which the second driving mode is switched to the first driving mode by the mode switching unit.