Shape-shifting seat makes you think you’re walking

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is developing a car seat that aims to cut the risks of sitting down too long by tricking the body into thinking it is walking.

The “morphable” seat, being trialled by the company’s body interiors research division, uses a series of actuators in the seat foam to create micro-adjustments that make your brain think you’re walking. Engineers say the technology, highlighted in the video below, can be individually tailored to each driver and passenger.

Studies suggest more than a quarter of people worldwide – 1.4 billion – are living increasingly sedentary lifestyles, which can weaken muscles and lead to back pain. This also means people are at greater risk of injury from falls or strains.

By simulating the rhythm of walking, a movement known as pelvic oscillation, the JLR technology aims to mitigate against the health risks of sitting down for too long on extended journeys.

Dr Steve Iley, chief medical officer at Jaguar Land Rover, says: “The wellbeing of our customers and employees is at the heart of all our technological research projects. We are using our engineering expertise to develop the seat of the future using innovative technologies not seen before in the automotive industry to help tackle an issue that affects people across the globe.”

Seats in Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles already feature multi-directional adjustments, massage functions and climate control.