Page 21 - ATZ11 November 2019 Professional

Until now, vehicle interiors have been very well orga-
nized: The front seats were in the front, the rear seats
were in the back, and all the seats were facing in the
direction of travel, with only a few exceptions. The fixed
feature of the vehicle interior was the steering wheel,
together with the levers for the turn signals and wind-
shield wipers, the gear stick, and the controls on the
instrument panel. All the indications are that very soon
this type of design will undergo a radical transformation.
New mobility solutions such as autonomous driving will
lead to dramatic changes in vehicle interiors. What
amazing opportunities will open up when none of the
occupants have to focus on the road and the majority of
the controls have simply disappeared? And what prob-
lems in terms of safety will arise from the fact that the
interior could turn into a living room with sofas like the
one at home?

One of the main problems involved in developing interior
concepts is making it possible to experience the cars of
tomorrow today. What will things be like in five or ten
years’ time when we are traveling around in mobile
offices? Decisions will have to be taken at a time when
real-life prototypes are not yet available. A dynamic driv-
ing simulator will help evaluating different interior options
in the early stages of development. The key feature is the
use of a VR headset or head-mounted display and a vari-
able mock-up combined with a reference system.

To improve the quality of life, the interior will have to
become more flexible, according to experts. The remain-
ing comfort systems could be operated using shy tech.
This involves the passengers only seeing the buttons
when they actually need them. Otherwise they will be
concealed in wood, leather, or plastic surfaces. A study
has shown that many people are overwhelmed by the
© Yanfeng
current variety of functions available. It is more import-
ant for the functionality to be smart and intelligent.

Autonomous driving functions and electric cars open up
new opportunities for designing and arranging seats. To
ensure high levels of comfort, it is essential that other-
wise quiet electric cars do not make any unpleasant
noises. Against this background, the design of bearing
surfaces based on NVH specifications, for example for
seat adjusters, becomes an important consideration.

Frank Jung

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