Occupant protection system including seat-back actuator system

A seat-back actuator system for a vehicle, the seat-back actuator system comprising:

• a set of seat-back actuators associated with a set of seats facing a first direction, the set of seat-back actuators configured to apply a force to move a portion of the set of seats toward a back of an occupant of the set of seats;
• and
• an actuator controller in communication with the set of seat-back actuators and configured to:
• receive a triggering signal indicative of one or more of an actual change in velocity of the vehicle, a predicted change in velocity of the vehicle, a collision, or a predicted collision;
• receive a directional signal indicative of a direction of travel of the vehicle;
• and
• cause, based at least in part on the triggering signal and the directional signal, activation of:
• at least one of the set of seat-back actuators to apply the first force when the directional signal indicates the second direction.

A method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a triggering signal indicative of at least one of an actual change in velocity of the vehicle, a predicted change in velocity of the vehicle, a collision, or a predicted collision;
• receiving a directional signal indicative of a direction of impact;
• and
• causing, based at least in part on the triggering signal, activation of:
• a seat-back actuator associated with a seat facing a direction when the directional signal indicates a direction of impact, activation of the seat-back actuator causing application of a force to a rear surface of the seat to move at least a portion of the seat toward a back of an occupant of the seat.