Ford, GM Debut New 'Smart' Seat Fabric Technology

[Ming]

Ford, GM Debut New 'Smart' Seat Fabric Technology at SEMA Show that Keeps Occupants Warmer in the Winter, Cooler in the Summer
Monday November 1

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Remember how hot and uncomfortable vehicle seats can get in summer months -- or how cold and uncomfortable they can be in winter?

That discomfort could be a thing of the past thanks to a new "smart" fabric technology that absorbs and stores excess body heat to create a cooling effect and releases it as it's needed to provide additional warmth.

Originally developed for NASA for use in space exploration and widely used in consumer products such as sportswear and bedding, Smart Fabric Technology is now being considered by automakers for use in vehicle seating as automotive interiors -- and consumer preferences -- take on increasing importance in product differentiation.

The new Smart Fabric Technology will debut at the 2004 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Exposition Nov 2-5 in Las Vegas. Ford (booth 21001) will show the fabric on the seats of a 2005 Mustang GTR and General Motors (booth 23442) will have it on the seats of a Pontiac GTO in the automakers' respective booths.

Automotive supplier Shawmut Corporation and Outlast Technologies, Inc., which holds the patent rights on this unique application to fibers and fabrics, are collaborating to bring Smart Fabric Technology(TM) to automotive seating. In collaboration with Outlast, Shawmut developed proprietary application processes for automotive seating. Since 1994, multiple joint patents have been issued for proprietary application processes that coat fabrics and foams with PCM Thermocules®, bringing an innovative comfort solution to the rigors of the automotive cabin environment.

Instead of relying on active controls common to most automotive seating thermal management systems today, the technology uses phase-change material (PCM), called Thermocules®, to balance temperature. The PCM Thermocules® within the seat absorb and store excess heat when it is created, and releases it back to the occupant when it is needed most. This cooling and warming cycle helps keep the occupant from being too hot or too cold. By buffering temperature and humidity fluctuations, the technology automatically helps the occupant adapt to the environment and stay more comfortable.

Article Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041101/dem009_1.html

[Ming]

Let's hope it doesn't feel like a scuba wet suit...unpleasant feeling fabric is no better than hot or cold seats at the wrong time of year.

[BigAls87Z28]

Im surprised to see Ford has any money left at all to spend on anything?

[Rex Raider]

Winds of change LW, winds of change.

As for the seats, I think having a remote starter on all vehicles is an easier investment than temperature absorbing seats.

[BigAls87Z28]

All in all, very cool for both sides.
Toyota might have hyrbids, but is the fabirc used on the seats developed by NASA?
Didnt think so...

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by Rex Raider

Winds of change LW, winds of change.

As for the seats, I think having a remote starter on all vehicles is an easier investment than temperature absorbing seats.

Remote start is nice...till the fob breaks. The coolness about the seats is that it doesnt require any power from the car.

How about that material back in teh 80's that when you touched it, the heat from your hand changed the color...anyone remember that?

[Swahili]

As for the seats, I think having a remote starter on all vehicles is an easier investment than temperature absorbing seats.

Might be an easier investment, but you know how those hardcore environmentalists get with people turning their car on and leaving it on for much longer than it needs to be, either to cool off or heat up. Besides, I think it would be better marketed to have this fabric built into the interior of the car rather than having to purchase another option in the remote starter. I don't know how this will be incorporated into the vehicles, what I mean to say is, will this fabric be an option or standard interior equipment? If it's standard than Ford and GM have really gone after the idea of solving a complaint, rather than just patching it up with a quick fix. Plus, this looks good for all those people whining about how GM and Ford are behind the times when it comes to technology. For GM, I've said before and will continue to say it, another step foward in the American Revolution. These improvements will bring a lot of people back to GM.

[JeffS]

"Originally developed for NASA for use in space exploration and widely used in consumer products such as sportswear and bedding, Smart Fabric Technology is now being considered by automakers for use in vehicle seating as automotive interiors -- and consumer preferences -- take on increasing importance in product differentiation."

I think its great to see this stuff available to the public BUT by being a tax payer, I helped fund the development cost. Perhaps tax-payer funded technology like this should be made available to the public at a discounted rate.

[awalbert88]

Originally Posted by JeffS

"Originally developed for NASA for use in space exploration and widely used in consumer products such as sportswear and bedding, Smart Fabric Technology is now being considered by automakers for use in vehicle seating as automotive interiors -- and consumer preferences -- take on increasing importance in product differentiation."

I think its great to see this stuff available to the public BUT by being a tax payer, I helped fund the development cost. Perhaps tax-payer funded technology like this should be made available to the public at a discounted rate.

It was developed for NASA, not by NASA. Thusly, it was a contractor job, so someone else presumably owns the patents. Most likely, GM and Ford are simply licensing those patents, just as NASA does. Now, if this were an in-house development by a government agency, I'd be all for free or dirt-cheap licensing of it to domestic companies (but charge an arm and a leg for foreign manufacturers)

[T-Keith]

I think people have dealt with leather so long they forgot what cloth seats were like. I never have any problems with hot and cold with my cloth seats.

[Butta]

Okay, but when will it make it make production, don't tell me 5 years.

[paul3230]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

All in all, very cool for both sides.
Toyota might have hyrbids, but is the fabirc used on the seats developed by NASA?
Didnt think so...

Good one!

[Taycron]

I've always had cloth seats and never had a problem...

[mrfunji]

Wasn't this or a similar material used in the H3T? Nike had some special fabric that did this stuff.

Sounds like good stuff, however as with everything there is a trade off. So since the material is functionally cool, it's probably some wack ass color to make it visually uncool, offsetting any advantage to the consumer

Hopefully this isn't the case. Where's the pics of that GTO with the fabric Admins?!?!

[ponchoman49]

Well this new seat fabric can't be any worse or low budget feeling than the garbage car makers are putting in some of the latest models. Examples are the Malibu, G6, new F-150, base 300, Colorado/Canyon, Equinox to name a few. It feels like the same material that is on my $40.00 office chair or in a cheap bus. There is zero luxury to it and it feels very stark hard and harsh! Hopefully this new material brings back some luxury, at least to some of the more expensive models.