US 5,703,303 A · Method and system for wear testing a seat by simulating human seating activity and robotic human body simulator for use therein

Abstract

A method and system for wear testing a seat by simulating human seating movement utilizing a robot and a robotic human body simulator mounted at a distal end of an arm thereof wherein a seat back surface as well as a seat bottom surface are wear tested without the need of video tape interpretation by a user of the system. Measured data is obtained by measuring 3-D locations of parts of a human during ingress of the human onto a calibration seat and egress of the human from the calibration seat. The measured data represents locations of the parts of the human. A control program is generated on the measured data by transforming the measured data to control program targets. Load and/or pressure feedback is provided for control program verification. The simulator includes a plurality of drives which receive drive control signals from a robot controller for moving a trunk and thigh parts of the simulator relative to and independent of one another to test wear characteristics of the seat bottom surface and the seat back surface of the seat under test for a plurality of cycles.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A system for wear testing a seat by simulating human seating activity, the system comprising:

a robot including an arm having a distal end and at least one arm drive for moving the arm;
a robotic human body simulator connected to the distal end of the arm for wear testing a seat bottom surface and a seat back surface of the seat under test, the simulator including:
thighs adapted to engage the seat bottom surface;
a trunk pivotally connected to the thighs and adapted to engage the seat bottom surface and the seat back surface;
and
a plurality of simulator drives for moving the trunk and thighs relative to and independent of one another;
and
a controller coupled to the at least one arm drive and the plurality of simulator drives and programmed with a control program to generate drive control signals so that the at least one arm drive and the plurality of simulator drives independently move the arm and the thighs and trunk of the simulator, respectively, repeatedly between a withdrawn position and a seat surface engaging position to test wear characteristics of the seat bottom surface and the seat back surface for a plurality of cycles.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for wear testing a seat by simulating human seating activity and robotic human body simulator for use therein

Life of this patent

Method and system for wear testing a seat by simulating human seating activity and robotic human body simulator for use therein

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8