It seems too much. Unreal. Based on a science fiction story. But aircraft of the future it really will. With robots that will bring us food, a shared bathroom and a virtual cockpit.
How to ensure that this will be the immediate destination of commercial aircraft? There is a key datum, that’s what they score the latest patents issued by large companies in the sector such as Airbus, Boeing, British Airways or Zodiac Seats France, just to name a few.
Airspace is known to be limited. The shape of an aircraft determines its efficiency. Every extra gram in equipment and accessories triggers the cost of fuel, and the environmental impact.
That’s why the designers of the sector, thanks to technology, work every day to gain more space in commercial aircraft, trying not to give up on comfort. And in some cases they improve it.
Hawaiianislands.com experts visited the patent offices and put together the aircraft of the future.
A robot will bring the food
While first-class passengers will still enjoy the human touch (or at least that of a hyper-realistic android), the rest of the passengers may receive food and drinks from a cart that will carry itself thanks to a small rail placed in the center of the corridor.
Drawing inspiration from Martin Limanoff’s Atomic Age sketches for a train service robot, Sell GMBH proposes an automated monorail for airplanes that runs along the aisle delivering food to passengers and freeing flight attendants.
Orders can be placed electronically, with ‘computer aided logistics’ ensuring the monopod is routed efficiently.
Seats, the big theme
training in zig Zag What the Zodiac company is proposing is another acknowledgment that people need more lateral room at shoulder height than at ankle height. With no seat immediately adjacent, Zodiac’s solution ends the battle of the armrest.
More shoulder room may be welcome, but at the cost of being awkwardly next to the person opposite. It also means that half of the passengers would fly “backwards”.
virtual reality entertainment
As already happens with some roller coaster seats, the headrest will have a sound. And in other cases, passengers will be able to access a virtual reality helmet, which allows for entertainment and also isolates themselves from the rest of the passengers. A great solution for facing seats.
Augmented reality in windows
The Airbus B64C 1/14 patent promises the “window team” to give you even more. Following the passenger’s gaze (including tracking), the aircraft will triangulate what caught their attention and provide the details (“it’s the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 Universal Exhibition…”) on a transparent screen which will be overlaid on the viewport . You will also have the option to save information to your device via Bluetooth.
Bath
None other than Boeing is the company proposing to reduce wait times by adding more toilets and other time-saving devices. The aircraft manufacturer proposes to place the sink for washing hands in a common area. Sliding doors and folding changing tables further reduce the space load.
The most futuristic aspect is the series of automatic lights that guide the user through every step of his time in the bathroom. Since he has his first moment in the bathroom until he washes his hands, for example.
premium passengers
These passengers prioritize comfort and privacy, and these are needs British Airways hopes to meet with the large seating modules of patent B64D 11/06.
The elegant herringbone formation of each seating unit maximizes space, offering business travellers room to spread out well in the front seat. The seating is wide rather than deep and is paired with a tail-shaped table of the same size (with storage underneath).
By adding “padding” between the seat and the table, the whole thing can be transformed into a “sleeping plan”. Converting the seat this way instead of the classic recline saves grams of weight, resulting in lower fuel consumption.
Does the driver go to the last row?
Airbus researchers have found that the current cockpit reduces fuel efficiency and takes up valuable space to sell seats. So they plan to move the commander to the queue and let it be assisted by multiple cameras. Patent US9302780B2 promotes OLED screens that broadcast live everything the pilot needs to know. The question falls from ripe: Will passengers feel safe knowing the pilot is not in front of the plane?
Source: Clarin
Linda Price is a tech expert at News Rebeat. With a deep understanding of the latest developments in the world of technology and a passion for innovation, Linda provides insightful and informative coverage of the cutting-edge advancements shaping our world.