Future Ferrari supercars may be equipped with adjustable seats to improve passenger comfort

2024-02-26

According to foreign media reports, Ferrari has applied for a new seat technology patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This technology divides the seat into seven separate parts and connects them to the central spine of the car, allowing passengers of all body types to easily find the ideal seat position and obtain maximum support.

In small volume supercars, especially those that prioritize performance, the padding is usually stuck to the monocoque. These pads can provide support for passengers while keeping the cabin facilities at their lowest weight. But these are things that can never be adjusted, and the only option is to equip heavy-duty seats with devices that can change the backrest tilt and seat angle.

Ferrari's solution not only significantly reduces weight, but also greatly increases the adjustable range of various parts of the seat. It is worth mentioning that Ferrari has previously explored methods to adapt vehicle cabins to various body types, and Lamborghini has applied for a patent for adjustable seats with independent moving components. Ferrari's new design seems to be a blend and improvement of the two, fixing the seat on the central spine of the cabin, which is equipped with actuators and motors that can be moved by hydraulic levers.

Its working principle is to divide the seat into up to seven separate parts, each with three movement angles, and each part can move along the Cartesian plane, that is, up, down, forward, backward, left, and right along a straight line. This means that thigh support, headrests, lateral support, and even seats that accommodate buttocks can move in all directions to meet the specific requirements of passengers.

Technically speaking, such movement can be achieved through a separate operating lever and manual operation of the actuator. However, in order to provide convenience to users, the system operates electronically and can store various settings (like the current memory seat). In addition, existing seats cannot detect the posture of passengers through cameras and automatically adjust various seat parts to meet relevant needs. Ferrari's invention can achieve this, even allowing for real-time adjustments.

In summary, this seat may make future 812 Competitione models more comfortable without excessive weight gain, while also making the car more intelligent to adjust seat supports according to the user and their desired sitting posture.

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