Voice-activated toilets in cars? A Chinese automaker files a patent application
In a pressing need? According to a government database, Chinese automaker Seres has filed a patent for an onboard toilet concealed under the seat and operated by voice command.
The idea of installing restroom facilities in vehicles is not new, particularly in vans, motorhomes, and certain SUVs. But what sets this new technology apart is its discreet integration and innovative design.
Specializing in electric vehicles, Seres is a well-known automaker in China. It has partnered with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei on the premium brand AITO.
According to publicly available records, Seres was granted a patent for these portable toilets in April.
These restroom facilities can be used either by manually pushing the seat backward or by using the voice command “activate the toilet function.”
“The purpose of this device is ‘to meet users’ needs during long trips, camping, or overnight stays in the vehicle, among other situations,'” wrote the Seres engineers in the patent application.
A ventilation system and an exhaust duct direct odors outside. Waste is collected in a tank that must be emptied periodically.
The toilets are equipped with a heating system that evaporates urine and dehydrates other waste.
Integrating the toilet under the sliding seat “optimizes the use of the passenger compartment,” Seres noted in its report.
In recent years, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have launched models equipped with increasingly sophisticated features in an effort to attract buyers, such as in-car karaoke systems, mini-refrigerators, and massage seats.
Seres has not yet announced any vehicles equipped with restrooms, and it is unclear whether such models will ever be produced.
