Airbus has started trials of IoT in aircraft cabins in preparation for what it says will be a new personalised passenger experience and an open ecosystem approach for airlines.
It has commenced in-flight trials of IoT technologies on board an A350-900 Flight Lab aircraft and says the move makes it the first aircraft manufacturer to undertake flight testing of such connected cabin innovations.
An IoT platform, known as the Airspace Connected Experience, was unveiled at APEX Expo last year. At this year’s APEX Expo, it won the 2019 Crystal Cabin Award for “Best Customer Journey”. Airbus says it will provide opportunities for airlines to generate additional revenues and increase operational efficiency.
Initial IoT devices and applications installed in the aircraft. include prototypes of Recaro’s connected iSeat (see below), a connected galley from Gategroup), a remote wireless cabin management control system, a large OLED display and the first step of Airbus’ new IoT backbone which includes an open software platform.
Airbus says these applications and devices are all now being tested in flight along with others “to be revealed in due course to customers.”
It lists examples of services that could be offered in the connected cabin as being:
- Passengers will receive a more personalised travel experience specifically targeted to individual needs and preferences, based on the available data. This could include pre- and remote ordering of preferred meals, booking of private bin space, setting of individual seat positions as well as a tailor-made inflight entertainment offer.
- Airlines will be able to generate additional ancillary revenues through personalised retail and advertisement as well as new services.
- Airlines will be able to improve their operational efficiency applying predictive maintenance, avoiding waste and making crew services more efficient.
- Crews will find a better working environment and more efficient tools, digitally enabled by real-time data from the IoT platform throughout the cabin. A mobile smart device will allow crews to monitor and operate all components.
Airbus says the in-flight tests follow a series of workshops “to create and prioritise innovative concepts,” followed by “an extensive phase of on-ground testing and customer evaluation of the connected elements.”
It says the next steps will be to continue testing the current setup, followed by seeking feedback from with airlines Airbus’ customer experience teams forum, by the end of 2019.
Recaro’s IoT enabled airline seat
Recaro launched its iSeat at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg in March 2017, saying it demonstrated sensors, scanners and transmitting units in the aircraft seat that could transfer key seat information as well as operating system data to the cabin crew and the ground station – via satellite in real time.
The results, Recaro said, were impressive: “cost reductions through early fault detection and diagnosis, savings in terms of manual controls and predictable service intervals. Furthermore, all seat functions can be operated and controlled easily and quickly by the passenger via mobile communications and the right app.”
