Development of an Air Driving Pillow for Comfortable Sleep Environment

Abstract

This study aims to develop a fluid actuated pillow in order to provide comfortable sleep. We proposed an active deformed pillow system by air pressure and its operation system. When inner pressure of the pillow was low, the actuators became flat because stuff inside of the pillow was nothing. Due to the property, sometimes the pillow was uncomfortable. We conducted sensory evaluation of a new actuator which contained urethane form. Almost subjects showed that the pillows with urethane were highly rating. Contact pressure concentration was reduced in case of containing urethane. As a result, actuators which contained urethane improved feeling of the pillow. We plan to select better urethane materials and these thickness.