A Comparative Evaluation of Seating Comfort for Future Automotive Seat Design
R. Chen (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
W. Song – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Emerging Materials)
A.R. Kruithof – Mentor (TU Delft - Emerging Materials)
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Abstract
This report investigates the evolution of seating comfort during prolonged driving using a mixed-method evaluation of three production automotive seats. Twenty-six participants engaged in repeated 120-minute sessions within a full-scale vehicle cabin mock-up. Subjective measures, including comfort and discomfort ratings, local postural discomfort (LPD), thermal comfort, fatigue, stress, and tactile perception—were combined with objective indicators such as skeletal posture tracking, seat adjustment monitoring, anthropometric data and facial emotion analysis.
Temporal changes in perceived comfort were influenced by time, seat characteristics, user behavior, and individual anthropometry. Observable patterns emerged in both subjective responses and behavioral adaptations, revealing multifaceted interactions between thermal buildup, physical support, and postural fatigue. This paper suggests feasible design recommendations and offers insights to inform future design considerations for long-duration and autonomous driving environments.