Shaping the side bolster is crucial in designing for car seat comfort

Abstract

According to the literature, there is a significant correlation be-tween the total experienced discomfort while seated and the maximum values of discomfort around the area of the side bolsters. However, there is not much research on bolster design. In this study pressure distribution between the human body and a bolster is recorded to see if further optimization of bolsters is possible. The study shows that the lower rib generates more pres-sure around 30-35 cm above the seat pan and it shows that there is much in-terindividual variation. In this project a new smart mechanism in the bolster was developed, which can adapt to different shapes, but it is also clear that pressure sensors in the bolster are preferable to be able to adapt to the large variation between humans.