Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has decided to reveal the secret behind the seats of its models to provide comfort and durability over many years.
According to the British brand, the seats of all its models are rigorously tested by four dedicated robots that simulate the weight of a driver and press the seats thousands of times.
The robots used in these tests (Kuka Occubots) can apply forces of approximately 82 kg to each type of seat 25,000 times over a period of about five days. During this time, they simulate the movements of people of different shapes and weights entering a vehicle and sitting in one of the Jaguar Land Rover models’ seats.
But JLR does not only test the act of sitting, as the dedicated robots also put the resilience of the vehicle’s heated seats to the test. In more than 20,000 cycles over 25 days, a robot recreates actions such as sliding and rotating in the seat, applying enormous forces. This testing action ensures the robustness of the heated seat and its continuous operation throughout the vehicle’s lifespan.
The robots also test the speed at which the foam recovers its shape after being subjected to pressure in different types of bodywork, and unlike humans, these robots do not need time to rest and recover energy, being able to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, managing to investigate faults thanks to the cameras they have.
“One of the first experiences our customers have when entering one of our models is sitting comfortably. Comfort is essential for a luxury vehicle, so this is a decisive moment, as everyone expects a consistent and comfortable driving experience throughout the vehicle’s lifespan,” said Thomas Mueller, Executive Director of Product Engineering at JLR.
