Aircraft Lavatory Central Controller for Touchless Function Expansion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft lavatories require individual controllers and power sources for each electronic function, leading to oversized circuit breakers, significant rewiring, extra weight, and increased power draw, making it difficult to add new features without substantial modifications.
Innovation Solution
A centralized intelligent controller manages all lavatory functions, coordinating power and operations to reduce system size, weight, and complexity, enabling touchless control and easy expansion with shared power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual controllers and power sources are used for each electronic function, then each function can operate independently, but the system weight and power draw increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual controllers and power sources are merged into a single centralized controller that manages all electronic functions. This consolidation eliminates redundant components, reduces overall system weight, and simplifies the power distribution architecture while maintaining the ability to control each function independently through software-based management.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized controller is designed to perform multiple functions that were previously handled by separate dedicated controllers. This universal controller can manage lighting, power outlets, entertainment systems, and other electronic functions, thereby reducing the total number of components and associated weight without compromising functional independence.
2Ease of operation
If individual controllers are installed for each function, then each function can be controlled separately, but the wiring complexity and circuit breaker sizing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control architecture merges multiple individual control circuits into a single centralized control system. This consolidation reduces wiring complexity by eliminating redundant control lines and simplifies circuit breaker sizing through centralized power management that can dynamically allocate power based on actual demand rather than worst-case simultaneous operation scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized controller acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple electronic functions. It provides a unified interface for controlling various functions while managing the underlying complex wiring and power distribution internally, thereby maintaining ease of operation for users while reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a new function is added to the lavatory, then the functionality is enhanced, but significant rewiring and additional weight are required
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized controller is designed with universal functionality that can manage multiple different electronic functions through software configuration rather than hardware reconfiguration. This allows new functions to be added by programming the existing controller rather than installing new dedicated controllers and rewiring, significantly reducing installation complexity and weight while enhancing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic, software-based function allocation rather than static, hardware-dedicated control circuits. This dynamic architecture allows functions to be added, removed, or reconfigured through software updates without physical rewiring, making the system highly adaptable while minimizing installation complexity and associated weight.
4Reliability
If oversized circuit breakers are used to compensate for worst-case scenarios, then all functions can operate simultaneously, but power draw and system size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized controller implements feedback-based power management that monitors the actual power consumption of each function and dynamically adjusts power allocation. This allows the system to support simultaneous operation of multiple functions when needed while using smaller, more efficient circuit breakers sized based on actual demand patterns rather than conservative worst-case estimates, thereby reducing overall power draw and system size.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system for touchless control of a lavatory of an aircraft includes at least one sensor (130) located in the lavatory and configured to detect detected data corresponding to the lavatory. The system further includes at least one actuator or light source (116, 148) located in the lavatory and configured to perform an action. The system further includes a central controller (102) coupled to the at least one sensor and the at least one actuator or light source and configured to make an inference based on the detected data and to control the at least one actuator or light source based on the inference.