A system for changing rear seat positions in a vehicle between deployed and folded configurations. The system comprises means to effect the steps of initiating a movement of the rear seating and, after initiation, moving the front seat so that collision between the seating is avoided. The front seat is returned to its previous position, or as near as possible thereto, afterwards. The system includes means to detect the position of the seating and to calculate whether a collision will occur, and automatically to effect the requisite movements of the front seating to avoid the collision.

An adjustment device for the automatic seat position change in a vehicle from an actual setting into a predefinable target setting including an electronic control unit for automatically setting at least one actuator for adjusting at least one seat-position-dependent adjustable vehicle component depending on detected vehicle occupant data. In this case, the control unit has an analysis unit for determining an efficiency-oriented adjustment space requirement for the adjustment of the actual setting into the target setting depending on the vehicle occupant data and the vehicle interior geometry.

A system for controlling a front seat of an automobile in connection with a headrest may include a sensor inputter, electric seat inputter, and a seat controller, in which the seat controller may automatically lower a height of the headrest when the front seat of the automobile slides forward in an interior of the automobile, and the seat controller may automatically raise the height of the headrest when the front seat slides rearward in the interior of the automobile.

A vehicle seat includes: a seating portion configured to support a seated occupant in a seating posture; a shell portion configured to cover the circumference of the seating portion including side portions of the seated occupant from a rear side of the occupant; a first moving device that is configured to move a relative position of the seating portion with respect to a vehicle; and a second moving device that is configured to move a relative position of the shell portion with respect to the seating portion, the second moving device being configured to move at least side portions of the shell portion to a first position at which the side portions of the seated occupant is covered by the shell portion and to a second position at which the side portions of the seated occupant is uncovered by the shell portion.

A reclining rear seat system is provided for a motor vehicle. That reclining rear seat system includes a front seat, a first actuator for displacing the front seat between a first position and a second position, a reclining rear seat and a second actuator for displacing the reclining rear seat between an upright position and fully reclined position. Further the system includes a controller configured to control the reclining rear seat system and a front seat occupant sensor.

System and method for obtaining and recording information about cargo includes a frame defining a cargo-receivable compartment, a position determining system at least partly on the frame and that allows for determination of position of the frame, an identification system on the frame that obtains information about cargo when present in the compartment, a memory component that receives and records information about position and movement of the frame, and the obtained information about cargo when present in the compartment in association with a unique identification of the frame, and a communications system on the frame to enable communication of information to and from the memory component.

A vehicle having a vehicle body that includes a floor, partially defining the inside of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a movable seat extending over the floor in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a foot support device for the occupant of the seat extending over the floor near the seat and defining a surface for receiving the feet. The support device is deformable relative to the body of the vehicle so as to modify at least the orientation of the receiving surface. The deformation of the support device is coupled with the movement of the seat such that the movement of the seat causes a coordinated deformation of the support device.

A trim element having a trim panel that includes an inner face and an outer face and at least one support element extending over the inner face and protruding toward the outer face such that the trim panel marries at least part of the contour of the support element in order to form a support surface on the outer face. The support element can be positioned in a plurality of positions relative to the trim panel, which is deformable to marry at least part of the contour of the support element so that the support surface can be positioned in a plurality of areas of the outer face.

Provided is a vehicle seat apparatus for a vehicle capable of executing a manual steering mode in which a vehicle occupant steers the vehicle by using a steering device and an automatic steering mode in which steering of the vehicle is controlled without intervention of the occupant. The vehicle seat apparatus includes a seat back, an arm rest, and a controller. The seat back is configured to support a back of the occupant. The arm rest is configured to support an arm of the occupant. The controller is configured to moves at least one of the seat hack and the arm rest. During a transition period of the vehicle from the automatic steering mode to the manual steering mode, the controller performs control to move the seat back in a direction to raise the seat back and performs control to move at least a portion of the arm rest forward.

A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are disclosed, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods are disclosed that illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.