A Deep Learning-Enhanced Framework for Car Seat Comfort Assessment Using CAD-CAE Integrated Methods
摘要
Car seat comfort represents a fundamental dimension of automotive ergonomics, yet its assessment and optimization remain predominantly reliant on subjective feedback and iterative physical prototyping, limiting scalability and responsiveness in the design process. This study presents a novel data-driven framework that synergistically integrates statistical analysis and deep learning architectures enhanced with attention mechanisms to predict perceived driver discomfort from pressure distribution patterns. A comprehensive dataset acquired from 192 participants was used to extract biomechanical descriptors, such as contact area and peak pressure, across 9 anatomical regions, which were subsequently correlated with subjective discomfort ratings collected on a 10-point Likert scale. The proposed hybrid deep neural network achieved a modelling accuracy of R2 = 0.82 for overall discomfort, with peak pressure emerging as the most influential factor (Spearman’s r = 0.78). Moreover, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was employed to validate geometry refinements suggested by the AI model, resulting in an 18% reduction in peak seat pressure without compromising structural integrity. The findings underscore the transformative potential of integrating artificial intelligence with CAD–CAE methodologies to enable rapid, user-centered, and simulation-driven ergonomic design early in the vehicle development cycle, minimizing the need for physical prototypes and enhancing occupant comfort.