江森自控認(rèn)為,隨著汽車行業(yè)朝著自動(dòng)駕駛的趨勢(shì)發(fā)展,汽車內(nèi)飾與座椅的要求也將隨之“徹底改變”。這家供應(yīng)商預(yù)測(cè),隨著新式的輔助駕駛系統(tǒng)的到來(lái),駕駛員的座椅也將變成一個(gè)“舒適的控制設(shè)備”。在2015年法蘭克福車展上,江森自控的主管們就這個(gè)即將到來(lái)的變革發(fā)表了自己的看法。
“自動(dòng)駕駛時(shí)代馬上就要來(lái)臨了,”江森自控集團(tuán)副總裁兼產(chǎn)品組座椅部件總經(jīng)理Detlef Jürss表示。“在未來(lái),駕座上的人員角色將從一名‘主動(dòng)的駕駛員’變成一名‘監(jiān)督人員’,只在必要的時(shí)候介入操縱車輛。而座椅則會(huì)變成一個(gè)具備多種智能功能的車內(nèi)部件,可以增加車輛的安全性、舒適性和娛樂(lè)性。”
但Jürss也指出,還需要過(guò)很長(zhǎng)時(shí)間才能看到汽車掌握所有控制功能、使駕駛員徹底變成乘客。在這條道路上,首先需要克服的障礙有很多,包括需要花費(fèi)巨資研發(fā)基礎(chǔ)建設(shè),厘清法律責(zé)任和道德問(wèn)題(安全系統(tǒng)究竟保護(hù)誰(shuí)?),并解決技術(shù)可行性和安全問(wèn)題等。
“汽車座椅將成為乘員安全保護(hù)的重要部件,將和車內(nèi)所有的主動(dòng)安全系統(tǒng)緊密相連,” Jürss表示。可以預(yù)測(cè),未來(lái)的自動(dòng)駕駛汽車的內(nèi)飾將會(huì)包括一個(gè)功能豐富的駕駛員座椅,它不僅能夠旋轉(zhuǎn),使乘員之間可以直接溝通,而且還能讓乘員躺下休息。而江森自控認(rèn)為,若想在這種情況下加強(qiáng)安全措施,座椅部件必須與汽車的整個(gè)傳感器網(wǎng)絡(luò)相連,而且必須具備互動(dòng)功能。
江森自控研發(fā)了一款已經(jīng)獲得批準(zhǔn)的可折疊、可平躺的后排座椅結(jié)構(gòu),有點(diǎn)像飛機(jī)商務(wù)艙的座椅。這款座椅專為一家汽車制造商研發(fā),現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)開(kāi)始批量生產(chǎn)了。因?yàn)椴捎昧艘环N可在事故發(fā)生時(shí)將座椅靠背豎直的傳感器技術(shù),該產(chǎn)品符合汽車的安全規(guī)范要求。
此外,提升體感和精神上的舒適程度也將成為自動(dòng)駕駛汽車座椅的重要發(fā)展趨勢(shì)。座椅必須能夠?qū)鞲衅魈綔y(cè)到的駕駛員昏沉或緊張狀態(tài)進(jìn)行獨(dú)立反應(yīng)。比如說(shuō),在長(zhǎng)時(shí)間使用按摩或氣動(dòng)側(cè)枕功能后應(yīng)自動(dòng)發(fā)出警報(bào)或調(diào)整乘員姿勢(shì)。
“未來(lái)的座椅必須為被動(dòng)駕駛員提供所有可能的選項(xiàng),讓他們可以一邊前行,一邊工作、娛樂(lè)和交流。” Jürss舉了一些例子,如平板電腦支架、閱讀燈和耳機(jī)等。“我們還能想象如何將空閑的副駕座變得更靈活,在沒(méi)人乘坐的時(shí)候把它變成移動(dòng)辦公室或休閑區(qū)域,并配上一些防滑的儲(chǔ)物空間,方便人們放置個(gè)人物品、飲料或可在車上無(wú)線充電的電子設(shè)備。”
江森自控在法蘭克福車展上展出的SD15座椅就包含了上述解決方案中的一部分,而且現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)進(jìn)入研發(fā)階段。
江森自控不是唯一一家正在猜想未來(lái)自動(dòng)駕駛汽車的內(nèi)飾會(huì)是怎樣的公司。同樣,在法蘭克福車展上,佛吉亞集團(tuán)在它的Intuition示范機(jī)上展示了增強(qiáng)車載聯(lián)網(wǎng)性能的創(chuàng)新方案。
佛吉亞發(fā)現(xiàn),越來(lái)越多的汽車乘員希望車上具備自動(dòng)化功能,而且還希望對(duì)車內(nèi)功能進(jìn)行個(gè)性化設(shè)置,使其能夠無(wú)礙地與外界連接起來(lái)。
“佛吉亞在Intuition上展示的車載聯(lián)網(wǎng)功能不僅更出色,而且更直觀,”佛吉亞客戶推廣總監(jiān)Gherardo Corsini表示。“盡管完全自動(dòng)的汽車還沒(méi)出現(xiàn),但我們已經(jīng)在開(kāi)發(fā)能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn)這一目標(biāo)的技術(shù)了。而現(xiàn)在我們展示的創(chuàng)新技術(shù)可讓乘客們提前窺見(jiàn)未來(lái)車內(nèi)的景象。”
其中最關(guān)鍵的是能夠適應(yīng)駕駛員情況的主動(dòng)適應(yīng)技術(shù)。當(dāng)車輛切換到自動(dòng)駕駛模式時(shí),Intuition可以提供更大的舒適度。駕駛員可以伸長(zhǎng)座椅,進(jìn)入放松模式,而中控裝置則會(huì)向后排方向滑動(dòng),讓駕駛員可以時(shí)刻夠得著屏幕。當(dāng)然屏幕的方向也會(huì)面朝用戶,時(shí)刻便于使用。
車內(nèi)環(huán)境也可以根據(jù)駕駛情形而改變。比如說(shuō),當(dāng)車輛處于“部分放手模式”,且駕座處于“放松”位置的時(shí)候,內(nèi)部照明會(huì)自動(dòng)改變成更柔和的模式。
此外,佛吉亞的設(shè)計(jì)研究還偏重于個(gè)人電子設(shè)備的整合。智能手機(jī)和平板電腦上的內(nèi)容可以投射到中控臺(tái)的觸屏上,讓乘員能夠使用移動(dòng)設(shè)備上的功能。使用感應(yīng)技術(shù)的無(wú)線充電設(shè)施則位于側(cè)門(mén)、手套箱和中控臺(tái)等位置。
Intuition概念機(jī)的另一項(xiàng)創(chuàng)新功能,是一個(gè)用“智能的”裝飾性鋁合金表面構(gòu)成的觸摸式儀表板,用接觸式的、一體化的電容式開(kāi)關(guān)來(lái)替代傳統(tǒng)的控制設(shè)備。細(xì)微的振動(dòng)和照明即可觸發(fā)各種功能的開(kāi)啟。佛吉亞表示未來(lái)還將在概念機(jī)和產(chǎn)品上使用這一技術(shù)與其他類型的“信息皮膚(infoskin)”。這個(gè)名為DecoControl Alu的產(chǎn)品將有望在2018年推出的車型上首次亮相。
此外,佛吉亞展出的創(chuàng)新技術(shù)中還包括隱形屏幕和高分辨率屏幕。該公司研發(fā)了一種黑屏技術(shù),并將其與前座乘員前方的儀表板整合在一起。在非主動(dòng)狀態(tài)下,這塊屏幕是看不見(jiàn)的,只有在使用狀態(tài)中才會(huì)亮起。位于中控臺(tái)的這塊高精度曲線屏幕不僅具有超高的畫(huà)面解析度,而且封裝也非常方便。
佛吉亞表示,Intuition及其中的各種功能都已經(jīng)為汽車制造商的新產(chǎn)品開(kāi)發(fā)做好了準(zhǔn)備。該公司預(yù)測(cè),在2020年的汽車中就能看到這些設(shè)計(jì)和功能了,因?yàn)槟菚r(shí)候?qū)⑹亲詣?dòng)駕駛汽車發(fā)展的高峰。
作者:Ryan Gehm
來(lái)源:SAE 《汽車工程雜志》
翻譯:SAE上海辦公室
原標(biāo)題:Johnson Controls, Faurecia envision interiors for autonomous driving
Johnson Controls, Faurecia envision interiors for autonomous driving
As the automotive industry moves to more autonomous driving, the requirements for vehicle interiors and seating will “radically change” as well, according to Johnson Controls. The supplier foresees the driver’s seat becoming a “comfortable control unit” as additional assistance systems come on board. Company executives shared their vision of the forthcoming shift at the recent IAA (Frankfurt Motor Show) 2015.
“Autonomous driving is on its way,” said Dr. Detlef Jürss, Group Vice President and General Manager Product Group Seating Components at Johnson Controls. “In the future, the role of the person in the driver’s seat will shift from that of an ‘active driver’ to that of a ‘supervisor’ who must be able to intervene whenever necessary. The seat will become a multi-talented interior component that provides its strengths in safety, comfort, and entertainment.”
But it’s still a long way off until the vehicle takes over all control functions and the driver simply assumes the role of passenger, according to Jürss. Challenges that must first be overcome include details concerning the necessary investment-intensive infrastructure, liability and legal issues, ethical aspects (who do the safety systems protect?), technological feasibility, and safety.
“The seat will become much more of an integral part of occupant protection, which will be linked with all active safety systems within the vehicle,” said Jürss. Anticipated features of autonomous-vehicle interiors include a driver’s seat that can rotate to allow direct communication among passengers, or fully recline to a resting position. To enhance safety in such situations, seating components will be linked to the vehicle’s entire network of sensors and be capable of interaction, according to Johnson Controls.
The supplier already has developed the first approved fold-flat rear seat structure—similar to a business class seat on an aircraft—for an automaker and is bringing it to series production. The product complies with automotive safety regulations thanks to sensor technology that raises the seat to an upright position in the event of a crash.
Increasing comfort and well-being is another major focus for seating in autonomous vehicles. The seat must be able to react independently to sensor-based evidence of drowsiness or tension—for example, with an automated alarm or position adjustments over longer distances such as a massage function or pneumatic side bolsters.
“The seats of the future must offer the occupant, as a passive driver, all possible options for work, entertainment, and communication while traveling,” said Jürss, citing the integration of tablet holders, reading lights, and headphones as examples. “We can also envisage making the unused front passenger seat more flexible, turning it into an additional mobile office or living space when unoccupied, and offering non-slip compartments for personal items, drinks, or electronic devices, which can also be charged wirelessly.”
The supplier’s SD15 seating demonstrator at Frankfurt showcased some of these solutions, which are already under development.
Johnson Controls is not alone in addressing what the interiors of autonomous vehicles might look like. Faurecia revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show its Intuition demonstrator comprised of innovations enhancing onboard connectivity.
Faurecia already is finding that vehicle occupants want more autonomy and more opportunities to personalize their interior with seamless connectivity to the outside world.
“With Intuition, Faurecia is bringing not only better, but more intuitive, connectivity on-board vehicles,” said Gherardo Corsini, Customer Marketing Director, Faurecia. “Though we’ve not yet seen fully autonomous cars, we’re starting to develop the technologies needed to bring them to the road while offering passengers a preview of the innovations that will be part and parcel of the vehicle cabin of the future.”
Automatic adaptability to the driver’s situation is key. When a vehicle transitions to an autonomous mode, Intuition offers more comfort. Drivers can elongate their seat to relaxed mode while the center console slides back so the screen is always within reach. The screen also pivots toward the user for ease-of-use.
The ambience of the vehicle cabin also can adapt to the situation. For example, when the vehicle is in “partial hands-free mode” and the driver’s seat is in the “relax” position, interior light settings can automatically change to provide a more soothing environment.
The design study also emphasizes the integration of personal electronic devices. Smartphone and tablet screens can be projected onto the center console’s touchscreen to provide vehicle occupants access to mobile functionalities. Wireless charging stations, using induction technology, are located in the side doors, the glovebox, and the center console.
Another innovative feature of the Intuition concept is a “smart” decorative aluminum surface that forms a tactile dashboard, replacing traditional controls with touch-sensitive, integrated capacitive switches. Slight vibration and illumination are used to signal actions. Faurecia says it will increasingly employ this and other types of “infoskin” for switchless controls in its concepts and products. DecoControl Alu, as it’s called, is expected to first appear on 2018 model year vehicles.
Invisible screens and high-definition screens are also incorporated. The supplier has developed black panel technology that’s integrated with the instrument panel facing the front passenger. The screen remains invisible when not active, lighting up when in use. Located on the center console, high-definition, curved screens offer high image resolution and packaging freedom.
Intuition and all its features are ready for program development with automakers, Faurecia claims. The supplier foresees such designs and functionality inside the vehicles of 2020 and beyond—at the midpoint in the evolution of autonomous cars.
Author: Ryan Gehm
Source: SAE Automtoive Engineering Magazine