What it does
Mounted beneath the driver’s seat, this device uses a spring and damper system to reduce impact during accidents. It cushions the body to enhance safety and comfort, especially on rough roads or long drives, and is ideal for elderly or commercial drivers.
Your inspiration
Conventional vehicle safety systems primarily rely on passive methods such as structural deformation and airbag deployment. However, these often fail to fully absorb crash forces, placing vulnerable occupants—such as the elderly, children, or fatigued drivers—at greater risk. Recognizing this limitation, the concept was inspired by the damping capabilities of suspension systems and reimagined beneath the driver’s seat to actively reduce and delay impact. By turning passive protection into an adaptive system that responds dynamically to collisions, this approach aims to protect those most at risk while emphasizing human-centered design.
How it works
The shock-absorbing device is housed in a rectangular platform beneath the driver’s seat and is connected at each corner to hydraulic shock absorbers. At its center, a floating core (movable axis) is linked to the damping system. Upon impact, mechanical locks release instantly, allowing the core to shift slightly toward the direction of the collision. For instance, a left-side collision causes the axis to move leftward, absorbing part of the force before it reaches the driver. As the core moves, the shock absorber on the impacted side compresses while the opposite one extends, generating a controlled restoring force. Unlike springs, which tend to rebound abruptly, the hydraulic dampers gradually dissipate energy, reducing the sudden load on the spine, pelvis, and neck.
Design process
The idea originated from the limitations of passive safety systems like airbags and crumple zones, which cannot fully absorb crash forces. Drawing inspiration from suspension systems that shield vehicle chassis from road shocks, a seat-level damping system was envisioned to reduce deceleration forces reaching the occupant. Through searches on WIPO, Espacenet, and academic databases, the absence of existing patents or products utilizing hydraulic dampers beneath seats for impact absorption was confirmed. Based on this, a fully mechanical system was developed, incorporating hydraulic dampers, springs, and sliding rails to enable limited multi-directional seat movement. Performance was further enhanced through the addition of levers and counterweights that adjust the damping response according to impact direction and magnitude. With the overall concept and damping layout finalized, the next steps include detailed CAD modeling and construction of a functional prototype to validate mechanical performance and support future integration into active safety systems.
How it is different
Unlike conventional safety mechanisms such as crumple zones or airbags that rely on structural deformation for passive protection, this system applies vehicle suspension principles directly to the seat. It actively reduces crash energy transmitted to the spine, pelvis, and neck—especially for vulnerable users. The damping level is adjustable based on occupant body type and seat configuration, and the system is capable of responding to repeated shocks. Designed as a modular unit within the seat, it supports scalability and offers psychological comfort by enhancing perceived safety. While still in the conceptual phase, its mechanical principles and structure are clearly defined. A similar prior patent exists involving a gas spring that slides the seat backward upon impact, but the operating mechanism and dynamic response behavior differ significantly.
Future plans
As demand for personalized occupant protection grows, passive systems struggle to accommodate diverse users by age, body type, and condition. The challenge intensifies in autonomous vehicles, where occupant posture can vary. This technology aims to become a smart, suspension-based system that adjusts damping in real time to occupant traits and crash conditions. Integration with collision prediction sensors is planned to allow preemptive damping during sudden braking or imminent crashes. The system is envisioned as a promising active safety platform for next-generation smart mobility.
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