Research on the Application of Rotating Seat and Belt Airbag in Occupant Protection of Autonomous Vehicle

doi:10.3901/JME.260349

Abstract

Abstract: In autonomous vehicles, occupants do not need to operate the vehicle, and seats can rotate to various orientations. However, conventional restraint systems fail to provide effective protection for occupants in different seating orientations. This study proposes a protection strategy that integrates rotating seats with a belt airbag: during the pre-crash phase, the seat actively rotates to the vehicle’s driving direction (0°orientation), while the belt airbag deploys; during the crash phase, the belt airbag absorbs energy through buffering to reduce occupant injuries. The airbag can take advantage of the advanced collision detection time provided by autonomous vehicles to extend its inflation and deployment process, thereby reducing the impact load during its activation. Due to the limitation that the instrument panel airbag is fixed in position and cannot move with the rotating seat, a novel belt-integrated airbag is designed. By thoroughly analyzing the effects of the inflation duration and inflation mass of the belt airbag on occupant crash protection, the optimal mass flow curve of the belt airbag is obtained. Then, simulation platforms with seat orientations of ±45ånd ±90åre established to investigate the injury mechanisms and kinematic responses of occupants in different seating orientations during frontal crashes. Finally, a simulation platform with an actively rotating seat equipped with a belt airbag is developed to study the occupant kinematic responses and injury risks under the protection strategy of the actively rotating seat coordinated with the belt airbag. The results show that the 65 L belt airbag developed in this study can effectively protect occupants in frontal crashes with an inflation duration of 200 ms and an inflation mass of 31.4 g. The protection strategy combining the rotating seat and the belt airbag can effectively reduce the injury risks of occupants in different seating orientations in autonomous vehicles.

Key words: occupant protection strategy, seat orientation, belt airbag, risk of injury, autonomous vehicle

CLC Number:

U467

WU Hequan, ZHANG Kai, HU Lin, ZHANG Shenao, LI Qiqi. Research on the Application of Rotating Seat and Belt Airbag in Occupant Protection of Autonomous Vehicle[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2026, 62(10): 308-324.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Reference Manager|ProCite|BibTeX|RefWorks

URL: http://www.cjmenet.com.cn/EN/10.3901/JME.260349

http://www.cjmenet.com.cn/EN/Y2026/V62/I10/308

References

[1] 余阿东，陈睿炜. 汽车自动驾驶技术研究[J]. 汽车实用技术，2017(2)：2. YU Adong，CHEN Ruiwei. Research on vehicle autonomous driving technology[J]. Automotive Applied Technology，2017(2)：2.
[2] 胡浩. 11部委联合印发《智能汽车创新发展战略》[J]. 橡胶科技，2020，18(4)：230. HU Hao. 11 Ministries jointly issued the“Smart vehicle innovation development strategy”[J]. Rubber Science and Technology，2020，18(4)：230.
[3] 周青，姬佩君，黄毅，等. 未来交通事故场景中乘员智能保护的挑战与机遇[J]. 汽车安全与节能学报，2017，8(4)：333-350. ZHOU Qing，JI Peijun，HUANG Yi，et al. Challenges and opportunities of intelligent occupant protection in future traffic accident scenarios[J]. Journal of Automotive Safety and Energy，2017，8(4)：333-350.
[4] 刘力源，荣亚鹏，李硕，等. 美国加州自动驾驶汽车路测数据分析[J]. 公路与汽运，2021(5)：40-44. LIU Liyuan，RONG Yapeng，LI Shuo，et al. Analysis of road test data of autonomous vehicles in California，USA[J]. Highways & Automotive Applications，2021(5)：40-44.
[5] 王孔龙，冯程，姜志豪，等. 自适应巡航目标跟踪不释放问题分析及策略优化[J]. 公路与汽运，2022(3)：1-3. WANG Konglong，FENG Cheng，JIANG Zhihao，et al. Problem analysis and strategy optimization of adaptive cruise control target tracking non-release[J]. Highways & Automotive Applications，2022(3)：1-3.
[6] SIVAK M，SCHOETTLE B. Road safety with self-driving vehicles：General limitations and road sharing with conventional vehicles[R]. Ann Arbor，Michigan：The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. 2015-2.
[7] 郝瑞敏. 自动驾驶技术驱动的汽车内饰设计研究[J]. 装饰，2018(7)：102-105. HAO Ruimin. Research on automotive interior design driven by autonomous driving technology[J]. Art & Design，2018(7)：102-105.
[8] MATSUSHITA T，SAITO H，SUNNEVÅNG C，et al. Evaluation of the protective performance of a novel restraint system for highly automated vehicles (HAV)[C]//26th ESV Conf. 2019：1-11.
[9] LAAKMANN F，ZINK L，SEYFFERT M. New interior concepts for occupant protection in highly automated vehicles[J]. Atz Worldwide Emagazine，2019，121(4)：48-53.
[10] SCHÖNEBURG R，BAUMANN K H，JUSTEN R. Pre-safe-the next step in the enhancement of vehicle safety[C]//Proceedings：International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration，2003：8.
[11] LEUNG Y C，C TARRIÈRE，LESTRELIN D，et al. Submarining injuries of 3 Pt. belted occupants in frontal collisions-description，mechanisms and protection[C]// Stapp Car Crash Conference，1982.
[12] YOGANANDAN N，FA P，GENNARELLI T A，et al. Patterns of abdominal injuries in frontal and side impacts[J]. Annual Proceedings，2000，44：17.
[13] TANG L，LIU J H. Safety analysis of belted occupant in reclining seat[J]. International Journal of Vehicle Design，2012，60(1/2)：39-56.
[14] 张玉新，何文钦，陈虹，等. 自动驾驶汽车安全技术专利分析综述[J]. 中国科学：信息科学，2020，50(11)：1732-1755. ZHANG Yuxin，HE Wenqin，CHEN Hong，et al. Review on patent analysis of autonomous vehicle safety technologies[J]. Scientia Sinica Informationis，2020，50(11)：1732-1755.
[15] JULIEN R. Method for operating an occupant protection by means of a passenger protection device and occupant protection device：Germany，102017007771[P]. 2019-02-21.
[16] FORMAN J，LESSLEY D，GREG SHAW C，et al. Thoracic respons-e of belted PMHS，the hybrid III，and the THOR-NT mid-sized male surrogatesin low speed，frontal crashes[C]//2009 Stapp Car Crash Conference Technical Papers：Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)，2009：185-209.
[17] 刘子建，黄天泽，张建华，等. 安全气囊对汽车乘员碰撞损伤防护的研究[J]. 机械工程学报，2001，37(5)：12-17. LIU Zijian，HUANG Tianze，ZHANG Jianhua，et al. Survey of research on airbag for occupant injury prevention from vehicle impacts[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering，2001，37(5)：12-17
[18] SAVINO G，GIOVANNINI F，FITZHARRIS M，et al. Inevitable collision states for motorc-ycle-to-car collision scenarios[J]. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems，2016，17(9)：2563-2573.
[19] 沈斌，任莎莎，季鹏凯. 安全气囊织物材料的力学性能仿真研究[J]. 机械设计与制造，2012，262(12)：45-47. SHEN Bin，REN Shasha，JI Pengkai. Numerical Simulation of the mechanical properties for airbag fabric material[J]. Mechanical Design and Manufacturing，2012，262(12)：45-47.
[20] 袁立明. 汽车驾驶员安全气囊静态爆破仿真与试验研究[D]. 长春：长春工业大学，2016. YUAN Liming. Simulation and experimental study on static deployment of driver airbag[D]. Changchun：Changchun University of Technology，2016.
[21] 田婧婷. 汽车正面安全气囊充气过程模拟及试验验证技术[D]. 长春：吉林大学，2009. TIAN Jingting. Simulation of airbag inflation process and test verification technology for frontal airbag[D]. Changchun：Jilin University，2009.
[22] KITAGAWA Y，YASUKI T. Correlation among seatbelt load，chest deflection，rib fracture and internal organ strain in frontal collisions with human body finite element models[C]// Proceedings of the 2013 IRCOBI Conference. Gothenburg，Sweden：IRCOBI，2013.
[23] 兰凤崇，蔡志华，陈吉清，等. 汽车碰撞中胸-腹部的生物力学响应与损伤评价[J]. 华南理工大学学报(自然科学版)，2012，40(12)：70-78. LAN Fengchong，CAI Zhihua，CHEN Jiqing，et al. Biomechanical responses and injury evaluation of human thorax and abdomen during vehicle collision[J]. Journal of South China University of Technology(Natural Science Edition)，2012，40(12)：70-78.
[24] 曹立波，欧阳志高，徐哲，等. 可逆约束系统参数匹配优化研究[J]. 机械工程学报，2016，52(10)：133-141. CAO Libo，OUYANG Zhigao，XU Zhe，et al. Research on parameter matching optimization of reversible restraint system[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering，2016，52(10)：133-141.
[25] 胡林，程启寅，黄晶，等. 自行车座椅高度对事故中骑车人动力学响应的影响[J]. 机械工程学报，2018，54(21)：81-89. HU Lin，CHENG Qiyin，HUANG Jing，et al. Research on the effect of seat height on cyclists’ dynamics response in vehicle-bicycle accident[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering，2018，54(21)：81-89.
[26] VIANO D C. Biomechanical responses and injuries in blunt lateral impact[J]. Surgery，1989，98(6)：1690-1719.
[27] 武和全，旷世杰，胡林. 老年乘员在自动驾驶车辆中的碰撞响应研究[J]. 机械工程学报，2020，56(12)： 144-154. WU Hequan，KUANG Shijie，HU Lin. Research on the crash response of elderly occupants in autonomous vehicles[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering，2020，56(12)：144-154.
[28] MORDAKA J，MEIJER R，ROOIJ L，et al. Validation of a finit element human model for prediction of rib fractures[C]//Proceedings of SAE World Congress & Exhibition Detroit，US：SAE，2007，Paper200701-1161
[29] WANG Fang，YANG Jikuang，MILLER K，et al. Numerical investiga-tions of rib fracture failure models in different dynamic loading conditions[J]. Co-mputer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering，2016，19(5)：527-537.