A-Seat

This was an experimental project with the following objectives:

  • Integrate AI into every step of the product development process ✨

  • Design a seat as part of a People Mover concept

  • Ensure the final product is manufacturable

Step 1 - Understand the product’s application environment

The chosen product was the seat, designed for the interior of a People Mover similar to the Holon Mover.

  • Foldable seats

  • Standing space when full

  • Regular standing space

  • Wheelchair space

Used LLMs such as ChatGPT & Gemini for sparring and research ✨

To break away from conventional designs, I explored biomimetics and generative aesthetics, using tools like Stable Diffusion to generate unique forms ✨

Step 3 - choose the right tool for the job

Conceptualized how the design needed to look like and set constraints so that the generative design would be driven in my desired direction.

Utilized the Generative Design ✨ motor of Fusion 360 to iterate through hundreds of structural possibilities:

  • Within my geometrical constraints to drive the generation of the structure in my wished design, it whitstands the mechanical stress

  • Is made out of a 3D printable material

  • Utilizes as few material as possible

Further improvements were made using NTopology✨ to refine the cushion:

  • Fully 3D printable for seamless manufacturing

  • Minimal material usage, applying structure only where needed most

Step 5- Improve it to your specific application

After running mechanical stress simulations, the best design was selected based on:

  • Strength-to-material ratio

  • Deviation Analysis

The results fulfilled besides that my design expectations.

Step 2 - Find inspiration

Step 4 - Test the winners

Why A-Seat?

AI is reshaping how we create. With tools like generative design and large language models, we can push efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving to new levels. But how far can AI go in real product development? Where does it help, and where does human intuition still play the biggest role?

This experimental project was not just about designing a seat, but about exploring how AI can actively contribute to the design process and improve the efficiency of product development.

My Take?

Learned and developed skills in

Material efficiency & lightweight structures

AI-assisted design

Design for manufacturing

Generative design & optimization

Finite element methods