Autonomous Vehicle Engineering - January 2022 - 8

Cover Story
"
With a completely automated taxi or shuttle, the rider can feel
uncomfortably disconnected from vehicle decision-making.
"
One seating configuration startup
Canoo suggests for the rear seating
area of its van-like Lifestyle Vehicle.
" Many of the automotive OEMs are implementing
'sustainable' materials. Some are approaching the idea
that replacing leather to 'vegan leather' is at the forefront, "
said Sue Magnusson - director of color, material
and finishes at luxury EV maker Lucid Motors.
" Looking back, the BMW i3 was the interior
that started much of this discussion, " she added.
" We have a much wider selection [of materials] and
more opportunities to work hand-and-hand with
suppliers to create sustainable materials with new
and appealing aesthetics. "
The need to address how vehicle users interact
with rapidly advancing driving automation, and their
growing environmental awareness is informing a
quiet revolution in the supplier-OEM business model.
Both entities are aware of the consumer and technology
trends that are progressing quickly.
" I've been with the company for 27 years, and
in my previous 26 years in the business, the OEMs
would come to us asking for collaboration on their
interior ideas, " said Yangfeng's Stout. " We would still
do a lot of the innovation to try to provoke them, but
in the end it was them telling us what they needed us
to do. In the last year, however, that's really turned
itself upside down.
" This is due to the recognition that we're not just
Designed from the outset to have no driver, automated
shuttles and robotaxis are projected to emphasize cabin
features unique to their duty cycle, such as antimicrobial
surfaces and adaptable seating arrangements.
trying to improve a vehicle three percent per model
year, but we're actually trying to develop an entirely
new model and method for launching vehicles, " he
continued. As autonomous becomes more and more
of a thing, automakers are asking two questions: 'What
does that interior need to be?' and secondly; 'How do
they make the vehicle autonomous?
Stout provides one example of the bridging of
today's developments with the potential needs of an
AV future: Yanfeng's new Zero Gravity or " hovering "
seat. " That has a great application in autonomous
vehicles, where you can recline and relax. But there
are huge safety questions related to it, " he admitted.
" How do you get occupants out of a steep recline?
What is the seatbelt strategy? The airbag strategy?
What are the kinematics of the seat mechanism? I
could put that in a traditional car as a passenger seat
on a long seat rail. The 'pull' for that type of seat is
in the AV environment, but the development of that
product is being done by the innovation team. "
He also makes a critical product-development
point: " Our decision was to not segregate the
technologists such as the sensor people. We have a
8 January 2022
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ENGINEERING
Canoo
May Mobility
Autonomous Vehicle Engineering - January 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Autonomous Vehicle Engineering - January 2022
