Browse Topic: Interiors, Cabins, and Cockpits
This SAE Recommend Practice establishes for passenger cars, light trucks, and multipurpose vehicles with GVW of 4500 kg (10000 pounds) or less, as defined by the EPA, and M1 category vehicles, as defined by the European Commission:
This paper contains Part 2 of a two-part paper series proposing potential regulatory approaches for occupant safety in Automated / Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) with unique seating configurations (stagecoach and campfire seating). Part 2 focuses on interior safety sensing, associated messaging, and ride control approaches both prior to and during a ride. Assessments are also proposed after significant vehicle braking and crash events. The proposed conditions are to be assessed in a static vehicle environment with humans segmented by occupant size and an infant dummy. On the vehicle seat and on the vehicle floor occupant detection conditions are proposed along with restraint usage detection conditions for vehicle seat belt usage, Child Restraint Seat (CRS) usage, CRS seat belt usage, and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system usage. These conditions may be detected by sensors / computer algorithms and human monitoring and thus are technology agnostic. The topics of animal
Some Automated / Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) have unique seating configurations (stagecoach and campfire seating) which present expanded occupant safety challenges. Significant portions of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) do not yet align with AVs containing unique seating. This paper series takes the NHTSA occupant safety standard approach for conventional forward-facing seat vehicles where many compliance evaluations are in the frequently occupied front row and expands it to stagecoach and campfire AVs where the rear seating row is anticipated to be frequently occupied. The approaches proposed are from a logic-based safety-focused analysis and in many cases previously published material. The goal of this paper series is to offer regulatory proposals that enable equivalent performance for these AVs to existing forward-facing seating vehicle occupant safety standards and meet Executive Order 13045 on child safety
Passenger expectations for quiet and acoustically comfortable vehicle interiors have increased significantly, driven by advancements in electric vehicles and premium audio systems. Acoustic comfort affects perceived quality, communication ease, and overall driving experience. This paper presents a simulation-driven methodology to predict and optimize interior noise performance during the early design phase, focusing on high-frequency acoustic transfer functions and trim material absorption properties. Traditional NVH development relies heavily on physical testing, which is time-consuming and costly. Early-stage predictive tools are essential to evaluate acoustic performance before prototype availability. High-frequency noise (1kHz–12kHz) is particularly challenging due to complex reflections and absorption behavior. Acoustic trims play a critical role in shaping the cabin’s sound field, and their properties must be optimized to achieve desired sound quality. A novel simulation approach
Climate control systems in Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) rely on electrical energy to provide cabin heating. In winter conditions, the absence of waste heat from internal combustion engines necessitates increased energy consumption for thermal comfort, which directly impacts vehicle range. Conventional HVAC systems typically operate with a mixture of cold ambient air and recirculated cabin air. However, the proportion of recirculated air is limited due to windshield fogging risks, constraining energy-saving potential. To address this, MAHLE has developed the MAHLE HeatX Range+ that utilizes the thermal energy of exhaust cabin air, that would normally leave the passenger compartment through vehicle body vents, to precondition incoming fresh air, thereby reducing the heating load. This solution is engineered for scalable integration into existing HVAC architectures, allowing adaptation to varying
The Audio system is an important part of the design of a vehicle cabin. In the vehicle development process, the audio system needs to be tuned for optimal acoustic performance. Traditionally, this process is performed physically on vehicles. In this paper, a methodology is developed to numerically simulate the acoustic performance of the audio system across the full audible frequency range. To provide validation of the method, the p/v acoustic transfer functions (ie., the sound pressure p at the passengers’ ears divided by the voltage inputs v) are measured for different speakers in a production vehicle. As the sound perceived by the passengers depends on both the source and the path, the method development is split into two parts: (a) characterization of parameters that describe the loudspeaker as a source and (b) representation of the vehicle cabin as a path. The speaker parameters are characterized from sound radiation data measured in a 2pi chamber. To represent the vehicle cabin
Lightweighting of components has become a key challenge in the development of modern transportation systems. In the automotive and aerospace industries, the overall mass of a vehicle has a significant impact on its fuel efficiency and manufacturing cost. Therefore, the lightweight design of vehicle components is crucial in the industrial field. Topology optimization (TO) is a computational design approach aimed at achieving lightweight designs. However, most existing studies focus on simplified academic models, with limited demonstration in real-world applications. This paper presents a revised TO workflow to obtain production-ready design and a practical implementation of TO in the design of three structural components in the aerospace industry: seatback frame, seat fuselage mount, and seat spreader. The revised TO workflow incorporates the practical demands of industry, including enhanced manufacturability and cost efficiency through TO design. The resulting designs are evaluated to
With the rise of software-defined vehicles and the emergence of cyber threats to vehicular systems, developing teams are compelled to conduct extensive testing on both virtual and physical prototypes at an accelerated pace. This new development landscape necessitates diagnostic tools that are both precise and adaptable. However, proprietary systems dominate this field, often hindering accessibility for students and researchers due to high costs and restrictive licensing. This paper presents the design and implementation of an open-source, low-cost remote testing system tailored for automotive development and diagnostics. The proposed system utilizes Arduino and Raspberry Pi processing units, along with relay-based switching modules, to provide secure remote control of vehicle components through a web-based dashboard equipped with authentication, scheduling, and real-time synchronization capabilities. The tested prototype showcased robust scalability, secure session handling, and
As already well-understood/enormous engineering practices, the inverter AC-side NVH phenomena/mechanisms/measures for motor-equipped vehicle, are already pretty clear. In addition to inverter AC side–induced NVH issues, DC ripple induced by PE switching leads to NVH issues manifesting on the capacitor, inductor, and conductor in terms of reverse piezoelectricity, electrostriction, magnetostriction, Laplace force, and so forth. These DC-side NVH issues are already literally analyzed by a couple of literatures, and mechanisms/measures are explored/applied to electric drive development. And yet, the phenomenon that a pulsating magnetic field inside a battery pack induced by DC current ripple off PE switching brings noise at switching frequency inside the vehicle cabin is newly captured/analyzed by our research, and that has been barely searched during the literature survey. This newly discovered phenomenon is the pivotal point in this paper. Although the noise features like the
This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) will specify what type of NVGs are required and minimum requirements for compatible crew station lighting, aircraft exterior lighting such as anti-collision lights, and position/navigation lights that are “NVG compatible.” Also, this document is intended to set standards for NVG utilization for aircraft so that special use aircraft such as the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, Air Rescue, Police Department, Medivacs, etc., will be better equipped to chase drug smugglers and catch illegal immigrants, rescue people in distress, reduce high-speed chases through city streets by police, etc. Test programs and pilot operator programs are required. For those people designing or modifying civil aircraft to be NVG compatible, the documents listed in 2.1.3 are essential.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are rapidly transforming the automotive landscape, offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles. As EV adoption grows, optimizing energy consumption becomes critical to enhancing vehicle efficiency and extending driving range. One of the most significant auxiliary loads in EVs is the climate control system, commonly referred to as HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning). HVAC systems can consume a substantial portion of the battery's energy—especially under extreme weather conditions—leading to a noticeable reduction in vehicle range. This energy demand poses a challenge for EV manufacturers and users alike, as range anxiety remains a key barrier to widespread EV acceptance. Consequently, developing intelligent climate control strategies is essential to minimize HVAC power consumption without compromising passenger comfort. These strategies may include predictive thermal management, cabin pre-conditioning
The purpose of this SAE Standard is to establish the specific minimum equipment performance requirements for recovery and recycling of HFC-134a that has been directly removed from, and is intended for reuse in, mobile air-conditioning (A/C) systems. It also is intended to establish requirements for equipment used to recharge HFC-134a to an accuracy level that meets Section 9 of this document and SAE J2099. The requirements apply to the following types of service equipment and their specific applications: a. Recovery/recycling equipment b. Recovery/recycling - refrigerant charging c. Refrigerant recharging equipment only
This SAE Aerospace Standard defines a typical coupling (with different fitting end styles), which is used in typical cone connection fittings installed in high-pressure (up to 3000 psi) oxygen systems for the purpose of mating to applicable oxygen equipment. Dimensions are developed from AND10089 and AS4375.
The purpose of this SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) is to provide recommendations which will lead to the standardization of interior door design and operation in all transport aircraft. Interior doors are broadly classified into two main categories which include egress path doors and non-egress path doors. The scope of this ARP does not include crew rest doors, secondary barriers to the flight deck, or doors incorporated in furniture surrounding passenger seats as defined in AS6960.
This report, in conjunction with other referenced SAE documents, provides recommendations for development of aircraft cabin pressure control systems and equipment, with particular emphasis on performance objectives, requirements definition, operational scenarios, design practices, safety processes, and verification methods. The objective of a Cabin Pressure Control System (CPCS) is to regulate aircraft cabin pressure throughout the operational flight envelope, in order to ensure occupant safety, aircraft safety, and passenger comfort. The system should comply with all relevant certification and safety requirements, particularly in the areas of: Maintaining a breathable environment within occupied compartments Protecting the fuselage structure against excessive positive and negative differential pressure loads Supporting cabin egress on ground The system should have the capability to schedule cabin pressure at rates of change that are comfortable to crew and passengers. Careful
This document provides information on provisions for passengers with disabilities on board commercial aircraft. In this context the term "provision of medical oxygen" shall be understood as application of oxygen on board an aircraft not linked to (post) decompression in the sense of Airworthiness Requirements FAR/CS 25 and Operational Regulations of FAR 121/135. Information about available equipment and physiological treatment in clinical practice will be provided in this document. It covers the use of oxygen concentrators according to guidance of FAR Advisory Circular AC120-95.
This Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) outlines the causes and impacts of moisture and/or condensation in avionics equipment and provides recommendations for corrective and preventative action.
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) discusses design philosophy, system and equipment requirements, environmental conditions, and design considerations for rotorcraft environmental control systems (ECS). The rotorcraft ECS comprises that arrangement of equipment, controls, and indicators which supply and distribute dehumidified conditioned air for ventilation, cooling and heating of the occupied compartments, and cooling of the avionics. The principal features of the system are: a A controlled fresh air supply b A means for cooling (air or vapor cycle units and heat exchangers) c A means for removing excess moisture from the air supply d A means for heating e A temperature control system f A conditioned air distribution system The ARP is applicable to both civil and military rotorcraft where an ECS is specified; however, certain requirements peculiar to military applications—such as nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection—are not covered. The integration of NBC
Rear-facing infant seats that are positioned behind front outboard vehicle seats are at risk of being compromised by the rearward yielding of occupied front seat seatbacks during rear-impact collisions. This movement can cause the plastic shell of the infant seat to collapse and deform, increasing the risk of head injuries to the infant. Current designs of rear-facing infant seats typically do not consider the loading effects from the front seatback during rear-impact situations, which results in weak and collapsible shell structures. Moreover, regulatory compliance tests, such as FMVSS 213, do not include assessments of rear-facing infant seats under realistic rear-impact conditions. as the bench used for the regulatory test lacks realistic vehicle interior components. This study emphasizes the need for revised testing methodologies that employ sled tests with realistic seatback intrusion conditions to facilitate the development of improved infant seat designs. Research shows that
Side crashes are generally hazardous because there is no room for large deformation to protect an occupant from the crash forces. A crucial point in side impacts is the rapid intrusion of the side structure into the passenger compartment which need sufficient space between occupants and door trim to enable a proper unfolding of the side airbag. This problem can be alleviated by using the rising air pressure inside the door as an additional input for crash sensing. With improvements in the crash sensor technology, pressure sensors that detect pressure changes in door cavities have been developed recently for vehicle crash safety applications. The crash pulses recorded by the acceleration based crash sensors usually exhibit high frequency and noisy responses. The data obtained from the pressure sensors exhibit lower frequency and less noisy responses. Due to its ability to discriminate crash severities and allow the restraint devices to deploy earlier, the pressure sensor technology has
The automotive industry constantly strives to enhance vehicle safety, comfort, and customer satisfaction. One of the critical aspects influencing these factors is the mitigation of Buzz, Squeak, and Rattle (BSR) issues, which can significantly impact perceived vehicle quality and user experience. This paper focuses on the BSR challenges specifically encountered in bench seat latch & striker mechanisms. Vibrations and movement, especially during vehicle operation, exacerbate Buzz, Squeak & Rattle (BSR) problems, leading to acoustic disturbances that detract from the overall ride quality. Latch and striker in seat system is prone to squeaks and rattles (S&R) due to improper fitment, environmental conditions, or mechanical stress. These issues not only compromise the auditory experience but may also raise concerns about component durability and functionality. This paper outlines the root causes of BSR phenomena in these components, emphasizing the role of design optimization, material
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