GM Dreams Up Maglev Seat

General Motors is seeking a patent for a magnetic levitation system that replaces traditional seat adjuster.

As stated in the patent application filed by GM to the USPTO in 2022, only published by USPTO on 5/2, the magnet can be embedded in the seat rail and use the opposite magnetic field to move the sheet up and down. The goal is to eliminate some of the moving parts of the current seat adjustment system.

The hardware required for current manual or power seat adjusters adds cost and complexity and can result in unreliable overtime, GM noted in its patent. For example, a seat truck can be full of gunks and the seat can get stuck if the occupant tries to slide it manually. And the motors and other hardware needed for the power-adjustable seats add a significant amount of weight.

In contrast, the system would largely rely on a series of magnets and a controller to adjust their polarity. The attraction and repulsion forces in place of individual magnets cause the seat to move, as well as the way the maglev is propelled along the guideway by magnetic force.

When it is moved to the correct position, the sheet is secured with a lock pin. This can be done automatically by pressing the pin using the actuator, GM noted in the application.

Whether magnetic levitation sheets will lead to production is not yet known, as automakers are not always pursuing patented ideas.

Like other automakers, GM regularly withdraws patent applications. Other recent examples include folding bed lamps for pickup trucks and active aerodynamics for sports cars.