Reconfigurable Vehicle Seating Layout for Child Care Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle passenger compartment designs lack flexibility in seating arrangements, primarily allowing only adjustments in overall seating capacity by adding or removing seating assemblies, without providing alternative configurations that cater to different user needs such as child care, cargo transport, or ingress/egress convenience.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising multiple seating assemblies with actuators and a controller that allows for dynamic reconfiguration of seating arrangements within the passenger compartment, including the ability to move seats, adjust angles, and reposition seating assemblies along a rail system, in response to user requests through a user interface, to create various arrangements such as child care, cargo, or ingress/egress configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If seating assemblies are fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but seating arrangement flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements movable seating assemblies that can dynamically reposition along longitudinal and lateral rails, transforming fixed seating into adjustable configurations. This allows the same physical infrastructure to support multiple seating arrangements (theater, classroom, conference, etc.) without requiring separate fixed installations for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail system serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables longitudinal movement, enables lateral movement, and defines travel paths. This multi-functional infrastructure allows a single seating system to achieve diverse seating arrangements without adding separate mechanisms for each movement type.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate mechanisms are used for seat movement, then positioning precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines longitudinal and lateral movement capabilities into an integrated rail system where seating assemblies move along defined paths. This merging of movement functions into a unified infrastructure simplifies control compared to independent mechanisms, while still achieving precise positioning through coordinated actuation along the rail tracks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If seating assemblies are movable, then arrangement adaptability is improved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves stability through dynamic positioning on rigid rail tracks. The rails provide fixed structural references that constrain movement to defined paths, ensuring that while seating assemblies are movable, they remain stable during operation and can be reliably positioned at any location along the rails.
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.