Design of Restraint Systems for Reclined Seating in the Automotive industry

Design of Restraint Systems for Reclined Seating in the Automotive industry

Singh, Utkarsh (TU Delft Industrial Design Engineering)

Vink, P. (mentor)
van Breemen, E.J.J. (graduation committee)
Wegner, Maximilian (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Integrated Product Design

2023-08-28

As the automotive industry advances towards greater autonomy, the landscape of car travel is evolving. The integration of reclined seating within vehicles, made possible without major alterations to traditional layouts, presents a promising avenue for enhancing passenger experiences. This shift, however, comes with unique safety challenges due to the changed seating dynamics.
Research, including insights from General Motors, Volvo & Volkswagen emphasizes the need for innovative safety solutions for reclined seating. Simulations comparing three-point and four-point seat belt configurations, in both upright and reclined positions, reveal advantages for the latter at higher speeds. This configuration produces a more balanced force distribution during impacts, away from vital areas.
While the potential of a four-point restraint system is evident, implementation hurdles arise. Addressing both safety and comfort, a study assesses the user experience for both systems. Building on these insights, a convertible restraint system is proposed, seamlessly transitioning from a three-point to a four-point configuration based on passenger position. This adaptable design merges safety and comfort effectively.
The proposed design requires the redesign of certain components of the seat back & headrest. These are provided as recommendations.

Occupant Safety
Safety belts
Restraint Systems
seat design

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a429bf65-4121-4799-9feb-59ef9477cda5

Student theses

master thesis

© 2023 Utkarsh Singh