Dan Damon Kevin Hampton Christine Lee Shane Siwinski ADVISOR: Professer Lin SPONSER: General Motors

PROBLEM STATEMENT Design an advanced, adaptive driver’s seat that maintains occupant safety, enhances comfort and meets current ergonomic standards. Design an advanced, adaptive driver’s seat that maintains occupant safety, enhances comfort and meets current ergonomic standards.

REQUIREMENTS Requirements as provided by GM / Prof. Lin: Innovative Ergonomic Adaptive Safe Include Pneumatics Designed for integration with future advancements

RESULTING PROJECT SCOPE Project Scope: Lumbar support Side support Seat lengthening option Ergonomic pan contour Designed for future integration Outside of Scope: Safety belt Orientation within car Head Rest –Whiplash User Interface Automation Sensors / intelligence

NEED FOR PROJECT Improve the driver’s overall experience  Increased comfort  Reduces fidgeting by maintaining proper posture  Reduce risk of musculoskeletal injury and intervertebral disc degeneration  Both achieved by design for proper ergonomics  Adjustable  provides a sense of customization  Accommodates > 95% of the adult population Advanced features increase marketability of product Improved benefit of long-term physical health

RESEARCH: Ergonomics Problem: Disc Degeneration  Sitting de-rotates pelvis  Flattens lumbar curve  Loads intervertebral discs Solution  Prevent pelvic de-rotation  Support lumbar Curve Anthropometric data  Research range of dimensions to increase adjustablity

PRELIMINARY DESIGN Beam Deformation Pistons Mesh Surface

PRELIMINARY DESIGN: Flaws Lumbar support geometry Anticipated seat thickness (15”+) Complex  16 pistons  24 universal joints Material:  Thermal effects?  Fatigue? Mesh tensioning

RECOMMENDED DESIGN Adjustable Lumbar support Adjustable Bolsters Adjustable Pan Length Ergonomic Pan Contour Components: Independent Modules

LUMBAR COMPONENT } Pneumatic bladders Lumbar Form Guide Rails Pneumatic actuation of lumbar vertical motion 10 inch radius got lumbar curve Vertical range of 5 inches, 7-12 from center of lumbar form to seat pan Depth range of 2 inches Collapsible design for injury prevention

Engineering of Lumbar Components Designing thickness for collapse Material removed to lessen stiffness Ribs added to strengthen lumbar surface

BOLSTER SUPPORT SYSTEM Adjustable  Provides personalized fit for a variety of body types  Range of 4.2 inches Support for intense cornering  Increases comfort Pneumatic actuation system

PAN LENGTHENING MECHANISM Adjustable pan length Shorter Drivers: Pan retracts relieving pressure on popliteal fold  Avoid restricting circulation Taller Drivers: Supports longer legs  Increases sense of comfort

PAN CONTOUR -10° anterior angle of the back of pan  Prevent pelvic de-rotation  Experiments conducted by Herman Miller reported discomfort at angles from 20-30°  Field testing to be conducted in future work to assess the benefit of the 10° angle Negative space under coccyx bone  Additional relief from loading of the lumbar vertebrae  Enables joint / disc hydration Min. 16 Max ° 10°

MODULAR COMPONENTS Adjustable components increases moving parts  Decreases system reliability Modules  Isolate failed subsystems  Standardize seat components  Improve manufacturability  Decreases maintenance time, replacement costs, and waste Bolster & Pan modules designed with quick disconnect latches

FUTURE ADVANCEMENT Recommended technology for integration  Continuous Passive Motion (CPM)  Origin: recovery of orthopedic surgery / injury  Joints need to remain mobilized for proper hydration  Use: cycle lumbar curve through subtle range of motion  Intelligent Automated Adjustment response system  Benefit: provide a customized fit to occupants Capable of accommodating 100% of the population  Future Research: pressure sensors  Future Development: intelligent pressure response system