Arrangements related to the operation of an autonomous vehicle are described. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle seat. It can be determined whether a future planned driving maneuver of the autonomous vehicle includes a change in a current motion of the autonomous vehicle. Responsive to determining that the future planned driving maneuver includes a change in the current motion of the autonomous vehicle, the vehicle seat can be caused to provide a haptic indication of the future planned driving maneuver prior to implementing the future planned driving maneuver. In this way, a vehicle seat occupant can be alerted to the future planned driving maneuver. The haptic indication can include a movement of the vehicle seat. In one or more arrangements, the movement of the vehicle seat can correspond to a sensation that a vehicle seat occupant will experience during at least a portion of the future planned driving maneuver.

A B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit (10) comprises a support plate (12) having a top surface (20) and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements (14), which define an upper surface (18) of the unit. The top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed the upper surface. A first foam pad (22) is disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate. A recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the first foam pad, accommodates a second foam pad (23) carrying a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26). The recess has a depth exceeding the total height of the pressure-responsive membrane switch and the second foam pad. The pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond opposite edges of the second foam pad.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle occupant protection in unintentional roadway departure by a vehicle having at least one vehicle seat with a seat cushion mounted on a seat frame, the height of which is adjustable through a motor operated height adjustment device. Vehicle travel is monitored using a remote sensor and/or a vehicle dynamics sensor. The remote sensor detects edges of the road. The vehicle dynamics sensor determines vehicle dynamics parameters. Road edge signals and/or vehicle dynamics signals are processed to determine whether the vehicle is about to leave the road. Operation of the height adjustment device to move a seat cushion towards a crash-position is triggered in response to an off-road signal indicating that the vehicle is about to leave the road.

A method for the automatic adjustment of a cockpit inside a road vehicle comprising the steps of determining anthropometric data of a driver; processing an ergonomic position of a model of the driver sitting on board the road vehicle; processing an optimal configuration of the cockpit; operating a plurality of actuator systems so as to cause the cockpit to reach the optimal configuration; wherein the ergonomic position of the model is processed in association with a minimum ground visibility; a minimum visibility of a control panel; and at least one first comfort angle of a body joint of the driver.

A method for preparing a vehicle prior to an occupant entering the vehicle includes acquiring information indicative of an upcoming time of entry of the occupant into a compartment of the vehicle, and commencing air replacement of at least part of the air in the compartment of the vehicle prior to the upcoming time of entry of the occupant. In some embodiments, the method also includes detecting whether the compartment of the vehicle has occupants, and commencing the air replacement responsive to detecting that the compartment of the vehicle has no occupants. In some embodiments, the method further includes determining a latest possible time for commencing the air replacement provided that the air replacement is to be completed at the upcoming time of entry of the occupant, and commencing the air replacement based on the determined latest possible time.

Systems, methods, tangible non-transitory computer-readable media, and devices associated with the operation of a vehicle are provided. For example a vehicle computing system can receive occupancy data that includes information associated with occupancy of a vehicle that includes seats. One or more states of the vehicle can be determined. The states of the vehicle can include a disposition of any object that is within the vehicle. Further, a configuration of the seats in the vehicle can be determined based on the occupancy data and the states of the vehicle. The configuration can include a disposition of the seats inside the vehicle. Furthermore, at least one of the seats can be adjusted based on the configuration that was determined.

A method of controlling power of a vehicle includes an individual device provided on each seat of the vehicle to be independently operated by an occupant of a corresponding seat, for detecting whether the occupant is present in each seat of the vehicle and turning off the individual device provided on the corresponding seat when a vacant seat in which no occupant is present is detected.