Systems, apparatus and methods may be configured to implement actively-controlled light emission from a robotic vehicle. A light emitter(s) of the robotic vehicle may be configurable to indicate a direction of travel of the robotic vehicle and/or display information (e.g., a greeting, a notice, a message, a graphic, passenger/customer/client content, vehicle livery, customized livery) using one or more colors of emitted light (e.g., orange for a first direction and purple for a second direction), one or more sequences of emitted light (e.g., a moving image/graphic), or positions of light emitter(s) on the robotic vehicle (e.g., symmetrically positioned light emitters). The robotic vehicle may not have a front or a back (e.g., a trunk/a hood) and may be configured to travel bi-directionally, in a first direction or a second direction (e.g., opposite the first direction), with the direction of travel being indicated by one or more of the light emitters.

A bench type seat frame for use in vehicles, such as busses and/or other passenger vehicles has been developed. In one example, the seat frame includes a reinforced pedestal mount. For example, the pedestal includes one or more self-reinforced feet mounted to a floor of the vehicle. In another example, the self-reinforced feet are made from folded steel in a double thickness configuration. The pedestal further includes one or more crumple zones configured to dissipate energy during a collision. In another example, the seat frame includes a cross member extending between the pedestal and a wall mount. In one example, the cross member is able to support both belted and unbelted seat configurations. For example, the cross member includes one or more belt anchors configured to receive and secure one or more seat belts.

A seat sliding structure for a vehicle includes: a pair of left and right slide rails that include upper rails, which are attached to a lower portion of a vehicle seat, and lower rails, which support the upper rails such that the upper rails can slide in a vehicle longitudinal direction; rail guiding members that are fixed to a floor panel, and that support the lower rails such that the lower rails can slide in the vehicle longitudinal direction between a driving position at a vehicle front side and a relaxation position at a vehicle rear side; and a locking mechanism that locks movement of the slide rails at the relaxation position, and that releases a locked state when a frontal collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted.

A recliner mechanism includes a housing plate and a recliner heart. The housing plate includes a plate body. The recliner heart is mounted to the housing plate and operable in an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between a seat back and a seat bottom, and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the seatback and the seat bottom. The housing plate includes a fore end proximate a front of the seat bottom and an aft end opposing the fore end and proximate a rear end of the seat bottom. The plate body includes a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom at or near the aft end.

A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seatback having a seat frame. The seat assembly includes a panel having an end slidably supported by the seat frame. The panel is bowable outwardly from the seat frame to a deployed position. The seat assembly includes an actuator supported by the seat frame and connected to the end of the panel.

A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle body including a frame backing member, and a vehicle seat including a seat back having a seat back frame. An energy attenuating member is positioned in a space between the frame backing member and the seat back frame in a front-rear direction of the vehicle assembly. The energy attenuating member is connected to the frame backing member. A mounting bracket is connected to the energy attenuating member. A connection support portion releasably connects the mounting bracket to an upper portion of the seat back frame in a height direction of the vehicle assembly.

Method and apparatus are provided for a vehicle seat weight detection system utilizing a metal deformation type energy attenuating device disposed in a load path between a seat and a vehicle structure. The energy attenuating device includes a weight sensing portion with a first end connected to one of the seat or vehicle structure, and a second end configured to transfer the seat weight load to a deformable portion of the energy attenuating device connected to the other of the seat and vehicle structure. An aperture in the weight sensing portion between the first and second ends divides a region adjacent the aperture into first and second sides. A slot intersecting the aperture and lying on a plane generally perpendicular to the load path divides the second side into upper and lower halves. A sensor on a surface of the first side of the weight sensing portion is configured to detect strain variations in the surface and produce a calibrated weight signal.

A shock absorber is provided to absorb an impact load in a vehicle. The shock absorber includes a base disposed on a frame of a vehicle. The base has a first part and a second part. The shock absorber further includes a bracket coupled to the base. The bracket includes a first portion with a flat surface and a second portion with an arcuate surface. The first portion is coupled to the first part of the base, and the second portion is coupled to the second part of the base. The shock absorber further includes a cover to enclose the bracket. The cover receives an impact load and transmit the received impact load to at least one of: the first portion or the second portion of the bracket.

A vehicle includes a vehicle ceiling, a vehicle floor, and a vehicle seat assembly that couples with the vehicle ceiling and the vehicle floor. The vehicle seat assembly includes a seat support that supports a vehicle seat from the vehicle ceiling, a base that forms a slip joint with the seat support from the vehicle floor, and a set of limit straps constructed and arranged to limit deflection of the slip joint in response to deformation between the vehicle ceiling and the vehicle floor (e.g., a vehicle collision, deformation between the vehicle ceiling and the vehicle floor possibly due to a blast, etc.). Each limit strap of the set of limit straps has a first end that attaches to a portion of the slip joint and a second end that attaches to the vehicle floor.

A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.