Abstract: A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix. An air bladder assembly is covered by the lattice matrix. The air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly. Each air bladder includes a body portion operable between deflated and inflated conditions. Each air bladder includes a connection stem. A support plate includes a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough. The air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate. Each air bladder is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures. A carrier assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof. The carrier assembly receives the connection stem of each air bladder through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures of the carrier assembly.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix. An air bladder assembly is covered by the lattice matrix. The air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly. Each air bladder includes a body portion operable between deflated and inflated conditions. Each air bladder includes a connection stem. A support plate includes a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough. The air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate. Each air bladder is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures. A carrier assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof. The carrier assembly receives the connection stem of each air bladder through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures of the carrier assembly.

Abstract: A method of making a trim article includes the steps of 1) obtaining specified criteria of a target component part comprised of a plurality of materials; 2) processing the specified criteria into a design envelope that includes parameters of the target component part within which the trim article to be created is to be confined, 3) inputting the design envelope into an additive manufacturing device supplied with a single forming material; and 4) forming the trim article using the additive manufacturing device from the single material. The formed trim article includes an outer casing with an interior portion having one or more lattice matrices disposed therein and having varying density profiles to simulate the specified criteria of the target component part. The formed trim article is created as a fully integrated monolithic whole via the additive manufacturing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for supporting and executing automated control of climate comfort settings based on user classification within a group identity database. Methods of generating and employing the group identity database are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle can determine an occupant type, location and orientation and determine intensity and direction of sunlight. The computing device can tint one or more portions of vehicle windows based on the occupant type, location and orientation and the strength and direction of sunlight.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix. An air bladder assembly is covered by the lattice matrix. The air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly. Each air bladder includes a body portion operable between deflated and inflated conditions. Each air bladder includes a connection stem. A support plate includes a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough. The air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate. Each air bladder is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures. A carrier assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof. The carrier assembly receives the connection stem of each air bladder through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures. Each air bladder may include a release valve for releasing air therethrough.

Abstract: A trim article includes an outer casing having an inner surface defining an interior portion of the outer casing. The outer casing includes a front surface having a plurality of through apertures disposed thereon. A core portion is disposed within the interior portion of the outer casing and includes first and second portions having variated densities relative to one another. The first and second portions include lattice matrices having variated patterns of interconnected links and associated cells that provide variated force deflection parameters between the first and second portions of the core portion. The outer casing and the core portion are integrated to define a monolithic structure comprised of a common material.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for supporting and executing automated control of climate comfort settings based on user classification within a group identity database. Methods of generating and employing the group identity database are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for supporting and executing automated control of climate comfort settings based on user classification within a group identity database. Methods of generating and employing the group identity database are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive a series of pressure maps indicating a respective series of sitting positions of an occupant in a seat, wherein the pressure maps include a current pressure map; update a profile of the occupant based on the pressure maps, wherein the profile includes a plurality of clusters of sitting positions and classifications of the clusters as preferred or nonpreferred, and updating the profile includes sorting one of the sitting positions into one of the clusters that is classified as preferred in response to the occupant remaining in that sitting position for greater than a threshold time; and adjust a physical configuration of the seat in response to the current sitting position being in one of the clusters that is classified as nonpreferred.

Abstract: An articulation assembly for a vehicle seat includes a planar engagement surface. An inflatable member is operably coupled to the planar engagement surface. The inflatable member includes a plurality of polyhedral bodies that are configured to be formed via additive manufacturing. Each of the polyhedral bodies has a foldable portion that defines crease lines. A plurality of elastomeric members are disposed on each crease line. A planar base includes a port fluidly coupled to the polyhedral bodies. A manifold is fluidly coupled to the port of the planar base and is configured to translate fluid through the port to the polyhedral bodies.

Abstract: A vehicle, hitch, and articulating trailer include vehicle to vehicle and infrastructure communications and vehicle computing systems, which have a controller coupled to and/or including one or more of a dynamics measurement unit, a transceiver, and a position sensor, among other components. The controller(s) are configured to, in response to detecting positions of trailer corners from the position sensor, generate vehicle and trailer relative orientation and navigation data including location, velocity, and orientation, utilizing vehicle and trailer electronic polyhedrons articulating about a hitch point and representing the combination vehicle and trailer predicted path and envelopes. In response to detected trailer movement relative to the hitch point, the generated articulated polyhedrons are generated with the navigation data, which includes the location, speed, and orientation, which are in turn communicated to nearby vehicles and roadway infrastructure.

Abstract: A support assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes a base fixedly coupled to a vehicle interior, a panel disposed on the base, and a track assembly disposed between the base and the panel. The track assembly includes a track and an actuator slidably coupled with the track and coupled with the panel and movable from a first position to a second position to move the panel from a stored position to a deployed position.

Abstract: An articulation assembly for a vehicle seat includes a planar engagement surface. An inflatable member is operably coupled to the planar engagement surface. The inflatable member includes a plurality of polyhedral bodies that are configured to be formed via additive manufacturing. Each of the polyhedral bodies has a foldable portion that defines crease lines. A plurality of elastomeric members are disposed on each crease line. A planar base includes a port fluidly coupled to the polyhedral bodies. A manifold is fluidly coupled to the port of the planar base and is configured to translate fluid through the port to the polyhedral bodies.

Abstract: A support assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes a base fixedly coupled to a vehicle interior, a panel disposed on the base, and a track assembly disposed between the base and the panel. The track assembly includes a track and an actuator slidably coupled with the track and coupled with the panel and movable from a first position to a second position to move the panel from a stored position to a deployed position.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. The seatback includes a rear portion and a substantially horizontal strap including first and second ends fixed to the rear portion. The substantially horizontal strap further includes an intermediate attachment area fixed to the rear portion between the first and second ends.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes, among other things, a ramp pivotable back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position. The vehicle door assembly further includes a door slidable back-and-forth between a closed position and an open position. The door and the ramp are configured to slide together when the ramp is in the stowed position. The door is configured to slide relative to the ramp when the ramp is in the deployed position.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes, among other things, a ramp pivotable back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position. The vehicle door assembly further includes a door slidable back-and-forth between a closed position and an open position. The door and the ramp are configured to slide together when the ramp is in the stowed position. The door is configured to slide relative to the ramp when the ramp is in the deployed position.

Abstract: A plurality of prompts, each associated with a road event, are presented on a display upon receiving a first input on an input device. A second input selecting the prompts is received on a second input device. A message is sent with the selected prompts and a location of a vehicle.

Abstract: A method of controlling a heating element in thermal communication with a rear window of a vehicle comprises: with a vehicle being in an external environment and comprising a rear window and a heating element in thermal communication with the rear window, a controller in communication with the heating element, the controller including a Pre-established Predictive Activation Model setting forth rules governing activation of the heating element as a function of data relating to Certain Identifiable Conditions, and a user interface configured to allow the heating element to be manually activated or deactivated; collecting data relating to the Certain Identifiable Conditions; determining, by comparing the collected data to the rules of the Pre-established Predictive Activation Model, whether the collected data satisfies the rules of the Pre-established Predictive Activation Model so as to initially automatically activate the heating element; and automatically activating the heating element.