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A seat for every situation

The developers at Bosch had a big ambition: to develop a car seat system ideally suited for every conceivable driving situation. "We want a seat that is so intelligent that it can change from a comfortable to a sporty seat with excellent side support whenever needed."

Drivers can now experience the result. A team from Bosch took two years to develop the world's most modern seating system: The Drive Dynamic Seat (DDS).

The intelligent car seat
The principle is easy – but revolutionary. Air cushions are built into the left and right sides of the back rest and seating area. A pneumatic control system in the seat changes the amount of air in the individual cushions.

The seat computer receives data on driving conditions from the ESP (Electronic Stability Program). One aspect is particularly interesting: If the driver turns into a sharp bend, the computer processes data on the steering angle, transverse acceleration and car speed within fractions of a second. The left and right air cushions are inflated depending on the intensity and direction of the drive through the bend. That greatly improves the side support for the driver and front seat passenger.

As simple as the principle may seem, the development posed major challenges. The control computers and electropneumatic valves had to be integrated into the seat in a very constricted space. The "Comfort" and "Sport" functions had to be adapted to suit people of different sizes and weights. During tests on alpine passes at heights around 3,000 m, the DDS had to prove that its pneumatics still worked despite the changed air pressure. Skid tests on extremely slippery tracks were used to adapt the side support to extreme conditions.

In the end, the Bosch developers were pleased with a seating solution that provides ideal driving pleasure in every situation.

Test drive: Alpine pass and highway

To test the behavior of the Drive Dynamic Seat, we drive to the mountains. Sitting down in the car, it is already clear that DDS is no uncompromising sports seat. It is comfortable and offers ample space.

DDS provides two options: "Sport" and "Comfort". We first select the "Sport" mode.

The system does not react while driving slowly (30 to 40 km/h) through a village at the foot of the Alps, since the lateral acceleration is very low.

Once on the pass road, we first drive at modest speed. The improved support is immediately evident in bends. The side cushions automatically inflate to adapt to the curves, stabilizing the upper body and legs. As soon as we drive faster around bends, the speed and volume of inflation or deflation change, making the seat tighter and more stable. It feels like a proper sports seat. Despite strong steering movements, we stay in an upright, relaxed position behind the wheel.

Driving sharp corners is very enjoyable. The seat steers with you and provides the right side support depending on speed and the degree of sporty driving.

We leave the pass and drive home on the highway, setting the DDS to "Comfort" mode. The seat adapts to this driving style too. The side cushions are no longer pumped up so full, allowing the seat to provide generous space for a comfortable and ergonomically correct position, even on longer journeys. By activating the massage function, the lower back can be gently massaged by the pulsating air cushions.

All in all, DDS makes driving an enjoyably sporty but comfortable experience.