Robots Test Car Seats Instead of Humans
Have you ever wondered how car manufacturers test the strength of seats? It turns out that special robots are used for this, which imitate human weight and movements. Four KUKA Occubot robots are capable of applying a load of over 800 newtons (about 82 kg) to each new seat up to 25,000 times. The entire testing process takes only five days, which is equivalent to ten years of use.
Furthermore, these robots check the operation of the seat heating. For 25 days, they slide and turn on the seat to ensure that the heating system can withstand any loads. The robots also help assess how different types of foam fillers react to different body types.
Technologies for Comfort
Unlike humans, robots can work around the clock without rest. They are equipped with cameras that allow for automatic analysis of test results and fault detection.
“Comfort is critically important for luxury. That is why we invested in robots that work alongside our engineers to thoroughly test every aspect of our seats in the shortest possible time,” said Thomas Müller, Executive Director of Product Engineering at Jaguar Land Rover.
Such tests are conducted for the entire Jaguar Land Rover lineup, including the Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery models. So, if the seats in your new car feel perfect from day one, you might want to thank these tireless robots.
The use of robots for testing not only speeds up the process but also ensures more accurate and consistent results. This is especially important for premium brands, where customers expect the highest level of comfort throughout the entire vehicle’s lifespan. Technologies that simulate real-world usage conditions allow manufacturers to prevent potential problems at the development stage.