(video) How the second-generation seat for autonomous cars was developed.
Every car has a steering wheel with a person behind it, but will it always be this way? Autonomous mobility is a fast-approaching reality for the auto industry, significant changes will come to car interiors, as well as the streets and highways they drive on.
Automakers have been showcasing their take on autonomous concept-cars as part of their vision for the future of mobility. There are some differences in detail, but they generally share similar overall concepts. The steering wheel is gone and the front and back seats adjust freely to maximize space usage. These changes will create room for things that are not reasonable currently, such as watching a movie on a large screen or talking face-to-face with fellow passengers. Rather than having to drive the car through traffic and obstacles on the street, the passenger can recline the seat all the way back and take a much-needed nap.
Hyundai Transys' first-generation seats are a glimpse into the future of autonomous cars in Korea
In 2016, Hyundai Transys began developing seats or autonomous cars. From market research to auto-trend seminars, studies and research into future trends and environment, Transys established an academic-industry collaborative relationship with Hongik University and Korea National University of the Arts to shape the project and fill out the details. The key concepts from that collaboration were shared with the Hyundai Motor internal design, which led to Le Fil Rouge's early design concepts for first-generation seats for autonomous cars.
The concept-seat included 5 different modes, from Easy Access which made getting in and out of the car easier, Autonomous, Communication, Relax, and Cargo. Each mode offers different positions, made possible by forward-backward tracking on the floor, as well as a 180-degree swivel base, as well as a lighter and slimmer seat that improved space usage.
Second-generation seat for autonomous cars by Hyundai Tranys
Hyundai Transys recently announced it had developed its second-generation seats for autonomous cars, also revealing the production models for its first-generation concept seats. To see all these things in person, we visited the Hyundai Transys Seat R&D Center in Dongan, south of Seoul. We met Hong Seong-kyeong (Team Lead, Seat Design) and Lee Jae-seong (Senior Researcher, Seat Engineering Team) and asked everything we wanted to know about seats for autonomous cars.
Senior Researcher Lee Jae-seong explained production model for first-generation seats focus on strength and safety
Q. First, please tell us more about the first-generation concept seats and their recent production models. What distinguishes a production model from a concept model?
The most notable difference is the strength. The design and functionality form the concept model was carried over as-is, but we developed it to have 2 to 2.5 times stronger than the concept design. In production models, there are strength standards for the seat to pass for collision safety. We designed the seat to meet collision safety standards, from the front and rear, as well as when the front seat is facing the rear.
For freedom of motion, swiveling seats are designed Belt-in-Seat (BIS), where a three-point harness with the shoulder belt is attached to the seat itself, rather than to the vehicle structure. A BIS frame needs to be more than twice as strong to meet the same safety standards. Seat and seat belt anchorage testing involves a large hook-like implement pulling the seat belt with great force to test frame strength. BIS frames require greater strength than the belts that attach to the vehicle structure.
The first-generation production model has come a long way from its concept model
The seats' range of motion was increased from the initial 180-degrees up to 240-degrees, while the forward/backward tracking of the seats was also increased from the initial 260mm to 700mm. The front seats even track sideways, 100mm to either the left or the right. We call it that 'magic slide function'. A swiveling chair may bump into the car's upholstery, so the tracking allows the seat more room to turn.
We also introduced a 'mono track' system where the seats are fixed on a single axis shaft which frees up space under the seats and allows room for rear seat passengers to stretch their legs.
Second-generation front-passenger seats use generative designs not seen in previous designs
Q. Your team also unveiled the concept design for second-generation seats. What stayed the same and what changed?
The second iteration of the seat design was achieved through collaboration with the Genesis design team. The team at Genesis wanted a new design concept that reflected more than just the autonomous driving needs, and we agreed to try generative design, which is a really new way of doing things. Generative design is a design exploration process where designers or engineers input design goals and parameters into the generative design software, and the software generates design solutions.
For example, if the engineer provides a strength parameter of a 100, the software explores all possible permutations within the set parameters to generate hundreds of seat frame designs. We look through the designs and select the one that best fits our need. This approach can cut weight and space requirements without sacrificing any strength, so it greatly empowers design autonomy. It is an innovative design method that can satisfy both the manufacturer and consumer based on engineering and design rationale. It was how we came up with the web-design for the frame. Note that we put extra attention to the headrest design, using powdered recycled aluminum to build it with finer detail.
The driver's seat has a smart armrest with controls for functions of the car
Q. The front seat center console present in the first-generation design is particularly noticeable.
The first-generation seats were optimized for the Kia Carnival, and the second-generation seats were designed with the Genesis' next-generation compact EV in mind. A center console can restrict movement for swiveling seats, and for a compact EV, there is even less space for seats for an autonomous car, so we made a bold decision to remove it altogether. We moved the drive mode controls, HVAC buttons and other functions on the driver's smart armrest. It keeps out of sight and slides out only when needed. We're aiming for production within the year.
Our first iteration design was focused more on the seats, but in this second iteration, we are also taking into account the overall interior of the car. Even in an age of autonomous driving, seats will continue being something that our bodies directly interact with, and seats will likely be an important determining factor for the car's interior. I think collaborating with an automobile interior designer opens up while new possibilities.
A Super Relaxation Mode is available for VIPs in the backseat of Genesis brands only
Q. What features and functions did you pay attention to accentuate the luxuriousness of the Genesis Brand?
The first-generation seating prioritized the driver, while the second-generation seats offered luxurious VIP features such as the Super-Relaxation Mode in the rear passenger seats, setting apart the Genesis brand from the competition. The second-generation seat offers 3 different modes; normal, communication (front seats rotate 15 degrees inward), and super-relaxation. Easy-access mode is also available for ease of entry/exit, where the seats swivel outwards.
In the super-relaxation mode, the rear seat reclines into a very comfortable position, much like a first-class seat on an airplane. We dubbed this the zero-gravity seat, which is structurally similar to the one in the Grandeur models, but the seat is wider by a significant margin and the center of gravity and pressure areas in the lower backside/buttocks was adjusted to give a much more comfortable position.
Additionally the space under the armrest between the rear seats was designed to house hot/cold elements, cupholder, and storage. To the right of the VIP seat is even a space to hold complimentary slippers for relaxation. It is a small touch that not only shows the degree of attention paid for efficient space usage, but also a gesture that the team wants to impress Genesis owners. Geometric patterns on the surface of the seat is another such attention to detail.
The second-generation seats are made of eco-friendly materials. Not in the previous design, the geometric patterns add a touch of luxury
Q. The seat is the only part of the car that our body comes into much contact with, and is a major determining factor in ride quality. What do the seats deliver in terms of ride quality?
That is a great question, and yes; seats significantly affect ride quality. That is why we designed next generation seats using the Kia K9's seat contour (FCL, Free Contour Line), which has been reviewed as being the most comfortable among what we manufacture.
The padding used inside the seats is also very important determining factor for the cushioning and comfortable seating. We tested many different padding material, accounting for many different factors, including region and road conditions. The second-generation seat uses recycled wool, an eco-friendly material that emphasizes design function and form. The seat uses absolutely no leather, whatsoever.
Seats in communication mode, rotated 15-edgrees in to face each other
Q. Traffic accidents are likely to be eradicated in the autonomous age, but we cannot be sure. can the seat provide safety in the unlikely case of a system error and accident?
Seats are developed to pass dozens of strength and durability tests. The next-generation seat uses the BIS frame which we performed anchoring tests and front and rear collision safety tests.
We are also doing multifaceted studies on the seats' safety. For example, we are studying ways to place airbags under the seat for passenger protection when in reclined position, and also solutions to put in airbags under the seat belt and the seat-belt bundle. The center airbag putting the bolster-airbags inside the seats will soon enter production.
One concern currently is collision safety in the communication mode while the front and rear seats are facing each other with a 15-degree swivel. The most straight-forward solution is to detect collision and rapidly adjust the seats into default position before impact, but this is still under discussion.
Hong Seong-kyeong Team Lead of the Seat Design Team says the next goal is to "develop an intelligent seat that communicates for mobility"
Q. Automakers are showing off autonomous car designs, accentuating the joy of driving and extreme safety. What has been the approach to development of next-generation seats?
In 2016, we had a keyword-based consumer survey on trends and what consumers wanted to see in autonomous cars. A major keyword at the time was "restfulness". The survey showed that consumers were generally interested in personal leisure activities, rest, sleep, reading, and entertainment. We decided to move forward with our development with focus on restfulness.
In that regard, seats will increasingly become more important; perhaps more than we currently understand. This is because seating will have to satisfy multiple needs: comfortable seating, safety, availability of latest technological features, and whatever else the market may demand. Not only that, the concept of connected cars is central to autonomously-driven cars, and this will require an on-board computer to constantly read and write to a remote server. So, one thing about these seats is that it will always have power and may serve as a place for memory storage.
Above all, for seats to satisfy future needs of the industry, Hyundai Transys will need to continue expanding its capabilities, and automakers will need to work ever closer together. Our next goal is to create seats that takes an evolutionary step forward toward a mobility-driven intelligent seat that interacts with the operator. Thank you for being so interested, and always keep an eye out for what we're doing next.
We were able to hear insightful answers about seats in autonomously-driven cars from Team Lead Hong. Seong-kyeong (left, Seat Design Team) and Senior Researcher Lee Jae-seong (right, Seat Engineering Team)
Autonomous driving is a rapidly approaching reality that can't be disputed. The importance of seats will only continue to grow. How will seats evolve in the future of autonomously-driven mobility?
Photos by Kim Beom-seok
◆ The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Hyundai Transys and the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Hyundai Motor Company's direction for future next-generation seat development.
