Tekscan’s BPMS™ (Body Pressure Measurement System) is an advanced pressure-mapping solution used to measure pressure distribution between an occupant and the vehicle seat or backrest. Its ultra-thin, conforming sensing mats provide accurate, repeatable data without altering how the seat behaves, giving engineers the insight needed to improve seating comfort, ergonomics, and safety.

Key Features for Automotive Applications

• Ultra-Thin, Flexible Sensor Mats
• Conform to seat contours, minimizing “hammocking” or data distortion.
• Allow realistic, repeatable testing without impacting occupant posture.
• High Spatial Resolution
• Capture pressure data at up to 1 sensing point per cm², revealing pressure peaks and load distribution with precision.
• Up to 2,016 sensing points per module; multiple mats can be tiled for full-seat coverage.
• Scalable, Modular Design
• Configure from one to eight modules to fit any seat or seat-plus-backrest arrangement.
• Upgrade over time without losing investment in existing hardware.
• Real-Time Visualization & Analysis
• View pressure maps live during testing.
• Analyze peak pressure, total force, contact area, and center of force location.
• Record time-based data to study occupant shifts, ingress/egress, or ride events.
• Powerful Reporting & Data Export
• Compare test results side-by-side to evaluate seat design iterations.
• Export data (ASCII, AVI) for advanced statistical analysis or correlation with FEA models.

Applications in Vehicle Development

• Seat Comfort & Ergonomics
• Optimize foam density, shape, and lumbar support.
• Reduce high-pressure points to improve long-term comfort and prevent fatigue.
• Occupant Safety Studies
• Examine pressure distribution under different crash dummy postures.
• Support development of seating that meets safety and regulatory standards.
• Benchmarking & Competitive Analysis
• Compare pressure distribution data across vehicle models or trim levels.
• Quantify improvements for marketing or validation purposes.
• Dynamic Testing
• Capture pressure shifts during braking, cornering, and vibration testing.
• Evaluate how seat bolsters and support surfaces manage occupant movement.
• Design Validation & Quality Control
• Verify consistency of pressure profiles across production seats.
• Use data to diagnose customer comfort complaints and drive root-cause analysis.

Benefits to Automotive Engineers

• Objective, Repeatable Data – Replace subjective comfort feedback with quantitative results.
• Faster Development Cycles – Real-time visualization enables quick design iterations.
• Improved Customer Experience – Optimize seats for comfort, performance, and brand differentiation.
• Reduced Warranty Risk – Identify and correct pressure-related comfort issues early in development.