The seat vibration feature is one way to keep the driver awake and alert while driving. The technology has actually been around for ten years, but unfortunately most manufacturers have switched to a new method, namely the sound of an alarm or vibration on the steering wheel.
Apart from the technology that has been considered obsolete by many car manufacturers, Hyundai is actually considering bringing the vibrating seat technology back to their latest car.
This stems from a patent that was recently filed with the European Patent Office (EPO), where the patent shows that it can be useful for alerting drivers of approaching danger.
Seeing that there is other potential to be explored in this technology, Hyundai has publicly stated that the absence of an internal combustion engine, transmission and clutch can result in boredom for the driver. And this is where the role of the vibrating chair will play.
“The various effects produced by noise, physical vibration and thermodynamic operation of an internal combustion engine are sometimes considered important for drivers in the field of high-performance vehicles,” the patent says.
It’s no wonder why the Veloster N is such a great car. Hyundai knows what kind of performance drivers crave, and this patent will engineer the vibrational sensation of driving a high-performance car.
Hyundai says that this patent was created to mimic the vibrations felt during acceleration, deceleration, and shifting gears. Long before that, Ford even offered engine sound in the Mach-E, but Hyundai wanted to emulate the actual vibration so that it really resembled an ICE car.
Not just a gimmick feature, Hyundai also wants to restore the function of a vibrating seat that can warn of various dangers. According to Hyundai, this method is preferred over audible alerts or alarms, because the driver can immediately know it directly.
Patent image
