• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.93-103
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• 2024

With recent advancements in autonomous driving technology, vehicles are evolving beyond being simple means of transportation to become spaces for rest and work. As a result, the development of seat frames that maximize the use of interior space has been actively pursued. In particular, the electrification of containment sinking seats has emerged as a significant challenge, especially regarding the structural strength design of seat frame components as they transition from manual to automated systems. This study aims to convert the manual folding mechanism of the sinking seat frame into an automated mechanism using electric motors and to design the required component specifications and strength during the process. The main components for electrification were simplified, and, in particular, the design variables related to the placement angle and length of the electric motor applied to the cushion bracket were set at three levels, with subsequent 3D modeling conducted. The study results are as follows: Firstly, multi-body dynamic analysis showed that, compared to the standard configuration, an optimal motor arrangement angle can reduce motor force and torque by 30.25% and 6.7%, respectively. Secondly, strength analysis, considering the maximum allowable motor load and rear moment for each cushion bracket configuration, indicated that deformation and stress could be reduced by 13.76% and 34.95%, respectively, through the optimal angle and length. Finally, the optimal configuration of the cushion bracket, which aligns with the multi-body dynamic analysis results, was determined. This process is expected to provide a useful reference for future design strategies for automated seat frames.