AI Flight Crew System for Autonomous Cabin Task Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial aircraft passenger assistance systems are inefficient due to the limited time flight attendants have to attend to passengers, and existing systems require manual navigation of menus, leading to serialization of tasks and difficulties in prioritizing tasks effectively.

Innovation Solution

An artificial intelligence processing unit integrated with sensors, flight crew, and passenger interfaces to autonomously perform tasks based on environmental data, flight crew inputs, and passenger requests, using predictive analytics and machine learning to prioritize and modify commands for efficient task execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If flight attendants manually navigate touch screen menus to set parameters, then tasks can be completed with existing technology, but the process becomes serialized and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime to complete tasks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and pre-prioritizes task sequences based on historical information and current sensor data before flight attendants need to execute them. The AI processing unit determines the optimal task sequence in advance, eliminating the need for manual menu navigation and real-time decision-making during task execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The passenger assistance system autonomously monitors sensor inputs, passenger requests, and flight crew inputs, then automatically determines and executes task sequences without requiring flight attendants to manually navigate menus or make prioritization decisions. The system serves itself by autonomously managing the task workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If flight attendants manually prioritize and evaluate tasks, then task execution can be controlled, but difficulties arise in considering various circumstances and determining task order

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to consider various circumstancesVSAvoidcomplexity of task management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The AI processing unit acts as an intermediary between multiple input sources (sensors, flight crew inputs, passenger inputs) and the task execution system. It processes all incoming information, applies historical data and predictive analytics, and outputs prioritized task sequences, thereby managing the complexity of considering various circumstances without overwhelming flight attendants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors sensor inputs, passenger requests, and flight crew inputs in real-time, compares current conditions with historical information, and dynamically adjusts task prioritization and sequencing. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to various circumstances automatically while maintaining manageable complexity through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If the number of passengers increases, then more passengers can be served, but flight attendants have even less time to assist each passenger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of passengersVSAvoidtime per passenger
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors passenger needs through sensor inputs and maintains continuous task execution without interruption. By automating task management and elimination of manual menu navigation, the system ensures that useful actions (passenger assistance tasks) continue without breaks or delays, thereby serving more passengers effectively despite reduced time availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3578462B1Artificially intelligent flight crew systems and methods
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 THE BOEING CO
  • EP3578462B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3578462B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3578462B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A passenger assistant system includes an artificial intelligence processing unit (110), a sensor interface (120), a flight crew interface (130), a passenger interface (140), and at least one end effector (150). The sensor interface couples the artificial intelligence processing unit with at least one sensor (122) configured to provide environmental information regarding a cabin of an aircraft. The flight crew interface couples the artificial intelligence processing unit with at least one flight crew input (132). The passenger interface couples the artificial intelligence processing unit with at least one passenger input (142). The at least one end effector is coupled to the artificial intelligence processing unit. The artificial intelligence processing unit is configured to direct the at least one end effector to perform at least one task responsive to information acquired from one or more of the sensor interface, flight crew interface, or passenger interface.