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. 2022 Mar 20;13(3):477.
doi: 10.3390/mi13030477.

Development of a Soft Robotics Module for Active Control of Sitting Comfort

Tjark Roozendaal  1 , Martin Verwaal  1 , Alice Buso  1 , Rob B N Scharff  1   2 , Yu Song  1 , Peter Vink  1
Affiliations

Development of a Soft Robotics Module for Active Control of Sitting Comfort

Tjark Roozendaal et al. Micromachines (Basel). .

Abstract

Sitting comfort is an important factor for passengers in selecting cars, airlines, etc. This paper proposes a soft robotic module that can be integrated into the seat cushion to provide better comfort experiences to passengers. Building on rapid manufacturing technologies and a data-driven approach, the module can be controlled to sense the applied force and the displacement of the top surface and actuate according to four designed modes. A total of 2 modules were prototyped and integrated into a seat cushion, and 16 subjects were invited to test the module's effectiveness. Experiments proved the principle by showing significant differences regarding (dis)comfort. It was concluded that the proposed soft robotics module could provide passengers with better comfort experiences by adjusting the pressure distribution of the seat as well as introducing a variation of postures relevant for prolonged sitting.

Keywords: adaptive; comfort; pneumatics; seat; soft-robotics module.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The soft robotics module. (a) The module; (b) exploded view of the module with A—ring, B—bellow, C—sensors breakout, D—base plate, E—pneumatic fitting, F—male header, and G—Octaspring.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Manufacturing process of the module (left: casting, right: part of the inside surface). (a) Mold, (b) white inside, and (c) dimensions of the bellow (in mm).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Manufacturing process of the module (left: casting, right: part of the inside surface). (a) Mold, (b) white inside, and (c) dimensions of the bellow (in mm).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Details of the sensor breakout. (a) Principle of the sensor; (b) principle of the sensor; (c) the sensor breakout.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Details of the sensor breakout. (a) Principle of the sensor; (b) principle of the sensor; (c) the sensor breakout.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pneumatics of the module.
Figure 5
Figure 5
A simplified free-body diagram of the module.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Data collection for the module: (a): the setup; (b): compression; and (c): blown up.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Data collected from the sensors. (a) Relations between pressure sensor signals (in V) and the force (in N). (b) Relations among displacement, sensor signals (S1 to S4, in V), and the speed (v1 to v12, in mm/s).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Data collected from the sensors. (a) Relations between pressure sensor signals (in V) and the force (in N). (b) Relations among displacement, sensor signals (S1 to S4, in V), and the speed (v1 to v12, in mm/s).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Integration of the soft robotics modules in the chair. (a) Octaspring and the space for the soft robotics module in the cushion (as viewed from underneath); (b) install the soft robotics module to the chair; (c) electronic and pneumatic components positioned under the seat pan.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Mean (dis)comfort rating per module on a scale from 0 to 10.
Figure 10
Figure 10
(Dis)comfort areas. (a) Body map for indicating the area of (dis)comfort. (b) Percentage of most (dis)comfort scores in the buttock area.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Forces in the chair at the most comfortable moment, per subject, sorted by weight.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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