Adaptive Car Seat

3. LITERATURE ANALYSIS

Comparison of existing active seats

In the automotive industry innovation is vital. Not only does the industry have to keep up with competitors but also has to maintain (or expand) market share and meet the increasingly stringent emission regulations to demonstrate a committed “green” responsibility in the ongoing public environmental debate[1]. Car manufacturers have to produce environmentally friendly cars. Most of them are already proactively working toward reducing fuel consumption and emission levels and developing alternative technologies e.g., efficiency programs like Blue Lion of Peugeot, Efficient Dynamics of BMW and Blue efficiency of Mercedes Benz. Mercedes' Blue efficiency is a package of fuel saving technologies[2]. Advancements include improved aerodynamics, weight reduction, lower-displacement engines and ECO start/stop to help save energy. Their ultimate goal is emission free driving. The Efficient Dynamics program of BMW also focuses on fuel saving technologies like cleaner engines, auto start stop function, brake energy regeneration, electric power steering, air vent control, gear shift indicator and tires with reduced rolling resistance. Peugeot's challenge is to reduce the greenhouse gases to limit global warming and a reduction of atmospheric pollutant discharges to limit impact on air quality. They have taken several initiatives like: a 'zero emission' car in Europe, the development of a cleaner diesel engine, energy saving tires and so on. Besides the improvements in their technology, Peugeot also incorporates environmental friendliness in their sales network facilities by sales areas with limited glazed areas, allowing better control of energy expenditures for heating and air conditioning. These premises also give priority to the use of natural materials such as wood and are organized so that the workshops are adapted to sorting and recyclability of automotive wastes. In short, when reviewing these efficiency programs, it becomes clear that harmful emissions should be reduced and efficiency should be increased[3]. However, the vision of BMW is that safety, comfort and driving pleasure should not be compromised by these developments.

i. Comfort 

In the existing active car seats the question is what a premium car manufacturer can do to increase comfort, besides a well shaped backrest and seat shell contour. To answer this question, it is necessary to have a closer look at the concept 'comfort'. Discomfort is more related to physical characteristics, whereas comfort is more related to experience, emotion, unexpected features, and luxury[4]. Literature is available on physical seat characteristics: the optimal backrest width and seat cushion width based on anthropometrics. Good pressure distribution increases comfort. Studies on the effect of extra features, like massage systems, showed positive effects on EMG measurements and comfort experience. Adding more features to a car seat will however increase the weight of the car and is, in view of the environmental discussion, not favored. How can the experience of a car seat then be enhanced? One option could be to design a seat that fits well to the human body as well as to the emotional status of the car. In other words, adapt the seat design to the character of a car; ...