Share

Automatic seat pre-adjustment from Johnson Controls enhances vehicle safety and comfort
Developers have validated pre-adjustment technology with more than 100 test subjects

Burscheid, Germany – 15 January 2013. Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company with established core businesses in the automotive, building and energy storage industries, has developed an automatic seat pre-adjustment system that brings the driver’s seat into a comfortable and safe position based on an individual’s size.

“Many people do not position their vehicle seat correctly. This can lead to back pain and stiff legs, particularly during longer journeys,” said Andreas Eppinger, group vice president technology management at Johnson Controls Automotive Seating. “The right seat adjustment is important for safety. This relates not only to the effectiveness of the head restraints, but also to the interaction with the airbags and safety belts. Therefore, we have developed a technology that allows vehicle seats to easily be pre-adjusted automatically.”

Automatic pre-adjustment of the seat position is especially useful when more than one person drives the same vehicle. This applies to family cars that are driven by more than one family member as well as to vehicles in company fleets and from rental companies and car-sharing service providers.

The ergonomics specialists at Johnson Controls developed an algorithm that determines the optimal seat position based on the driver’s size. Based on this algorithm, the adjustment motors automatically move the seat to a position that is both comfortable and safe for the respective individual. In some cases, the driver may still need to fine-tune the seat position to suit his personal preferences.

The experts from Johnson Controls examined the seat positions of more than 100 people.

“We discovered that correct positioning of the seat track cannot be derived directly from leg length, nor from height adjustment of the seat derived directly from the torso length. Rather, the human body is more like a complex system. If you change one parameter, this has an impact on other variables,” explained Eppinger. “We were able to program the algorithm so that size was sufficient as the decisive adjustment criteria. This enabled very precise default adjustment that was rated as good by the participants in the series of tests we performed. Following minor manual readjustment, they rated the position as very good.”

A large majority of the test group found the pre-adjustment technology to be convenient and user-friendly.

To operate the system, Johnson Controls has developed an app that allows drivers to input their size via smartphone. Alternatively, this information can easily be entered into the vehicle’s digital control console. It is also possible for an on-board camera to automatically measure body size before the driver even enters the vehicle and for the seat to move into the correct position.

It is also conceivable that the driver’s size could be stored in the customer profile for rental cars and car-sharing services. This information would be forwarded to the vehicle upon hire so that the seat can be adjusted before the driver enters the car.

“Connectivity in vehicles means far more than just access to the Internet and email. By networking the vehicles, comfort and safety can also be increased. The automatic seat preadjustment is a good example of intelligent interfaces between humans and machines,” said Eppinger.

Images with body height in centimeters:

Smart seat control from Johnson Controls

Smart seat control from Johnson Controls: once the body size has been input using an app, the vehicle seat automatically moves to a near perfect position for a comfortable and safe drive. For example, the seat is pre-adjusted to a forward, high position and the head restraint is set low for a 1.61 meter driver.

Low resolution (72dpi)
High resolution (300dpi)

Smart seat control from Johnson Controls

The smart seat control is based on an algorithm that determines the ergonomically correct and safe seat position using body size. For a 1.86 meter driver, the seat is moved backwards and downwards and the headrest is raised further. The leg rest of the seat depth adjustment is also extended.

Low resolution (72dpi)
High resolution (300dpi)

Images with body height in feet:

Smart seat control from Johnson Controls

Smart seat control from Johnson Controls: once the body size has been input using an app, the vehicle seat automatically moves to a near perfect position for a comfortable and safe drive. For example, the seat is pre-adjusted to a forward, high position and the head restraint is set low for a 5'3" driver.

Low resolution (72dpi)
High resolution (300dpi)

Smart seat control from Johnson Controls

The smart seat control is based on an algorithm that determines the ergonomically correct and safe seat position using body size. For a 6'1" driver, the seat is moved backwards and downwards and the headrest is raised further. The leg rest of the seat depth adjustment is also extended.

Low resolution (72dpi)
High resolution (300dpi)

For more information, please contact:

Johnson Controls GmbH
Automotive Seating
Industriestraße 20–30
51399 Burscheid, Germany

Oliver Herkert
Tel.: +49 2174 65-4348
E-Mail: oliver.herkert@jci.com

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful.

About Johnson Controls Automotive Experience
Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive seating, overhead systems, door and instrument panels, and interior electronics. We support all major automakers in the differentiation of their vehicles through our products, technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities. With 240 locations worldwide, we are where our customers need us to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort and style of our products, from single components to complete interiors. With our global capability we supply approximately 50 million cars per year.

Site map | Privacy | Terms of use | Copyright