Aircraft Cabin Control via Passenger Identity and Speech Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional aircraft cabin control systems rely on manual operation or unreliable speech control due to background noise variability during flight, limiting efficient and personalized passenger experience.
Innovation Solution
A multimodal command input system utilizing artificial intelligence to recognize passenger identity and preferences, integrating diverse inputs such as flight plan, speech recognition, and real-time aircraft state information to provide interactive control over cabin devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If speech control is used in traditional aircraft cabin systems, then control convenience is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to background noise variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple speech recognition systems with different noise handling capabilities into a unified cabin control system. The first speech recognition system operates effectively in low-background-noise conditions while the second system operates in high-background-noise conditions, and the system dynamically selects between them based on ambient noise levels, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and reliability across varying flight conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its speech recognition approach based on real-time background noise conditions. A noise detection mechanism monitors ambient sound levels and automatically switches between different speech recognition systems or adjusts recognition parameters, ensuring reliable control convenience regardless of whether the aircraft is in high-noise or low-noise phases of flight.
2Device complexity
If manual controls are used for each cabin device, then system simplicity is maintained, but control efficiency deteriorates due to independent operation of multiple systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal cabin control system that can manage multiple different cabin devices (lighting, temperature control, entertainment, seating) through a single integrated interface. This multi-functional system replaces numerous independent manual controls, maintaining operational simplicity for the passenger while dramatically improving control efficiency by allowing centralized management of all cabin systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into modular functional components (speech recognition module, noise detection module, device control module, user profile module) that can independently manage specific tasks. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity by presenting a unified interface to users while improving efficiency through specialized processing in each module, with each component handling specific device types or control functions.
3Speed
If generic control responses are provided, then system responsiveness is improved, but personalization deteriorates due to lack of user-specific adaptations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting and storing user identity information (such as seat position, passenger ID, or biometric data) before control requests are made. User profiles containing preferred settings for lighting, temperature, entertainment, and seating are pre-configured and stored in memory. When a passenger enters the cabin or sits in a seat, the system automatically retrieves and applies their preferred settings in advance, providing both immediate responsiveness and personalized adaptation without requiring manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor user interactions with cabin systems and automatically adjust settings based on observed preferences. For example, if a passenger repeatedly adjusts the temperature or lighting to specific levels, the system learns these preferences and automatically applies them in future flights or during the current flight, maintaining rapid responsiveness while progressively improving personalization through adaptive learning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables precise and personalized control of aircraft cabin environments, enhancing passenger comfort and enjoyment by accurately predicting user intentions and adapting settings based on learned preferences.
Implementation Method 1
at least one microphone array disposed within the cabin to capture spoken utterances from a passenger and configured to provide an estimation of passenger location within the cabin based on arrival time analysis of the spoken utterances
Data Source
AI summary
The interactive aircraft cabin environment control system employs at least one microphone array disposed within the cabin to capture spoken utterances from a passenger and is configured to provide an estimation of passenger location within the cabin based on arrival time analysis of the spoken utterances. A data source onboard the aircraft provides flight context information. Such data sources include sensors measuring real-time parameters on the aircraft, the current flight plan of the aircraft, singly and in combination. A control processor, coupled to the microphone array, is configured to ascertain passenger identity based on the spoken utterances. The control processor is programmed and configured to learn and associate passenger preference to passenger identity. The control processor is receptive of the estimation of passenger location and is coupled to provide supervisory control over at least one device forming a part of the cabin environment according to passenger location, passenger preference obtained from passenger identity and flight context information.