Gesture Control for In-Flight Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-flight services, such as reading lighting, air conditioning, and flight attendant call signals, require manual operation, which is inconvenient for passengers who cannot reach overhead panels and lacks touchless options, especially during pandemics.
Innovation Solution
A gesture-controlled system using a gesture detection device, controller, and actuator to recognize free space gestures like hand, finger, or head movements to control in-flight services like reading light, air conditioning, and storage bin doors, reducing the need for manual operation and providing touchless interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation of in-flight services is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates for passengers who cannot reach overhead panels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with gesture-based control. The gesture detection device captures hand movements, and the controller translates these gestures into commands for service control, eliminating the need for physical contact with overhead panels and switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gesture detection device and controller as intermediaries between the passenger and the in-flight services. The detection device captures gestures in the air space, and the controller processes these gestures to control services, providing a touchless interface that improves accessibility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual contact with overhead panels is required, then device complexity is minimized, but hygiene deteriorates during pandemics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates physical contact with overhead panels by substituting manual operation with gesture-based control. The gesture detection device captures hand movements in the air, and the controller translates these into service commands, providing a touchless interface that prevents surface contact and reduces transmission risks.
3Ease of operation
If gesture detection devices and controllers are added, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it receives gestures from the detection device, identifies the gestures against stored patterns, determines the corresponding services, and sends control signals to actuators. This multi-functionality consolidates complexity into a single component that can handle various gestures and control different services.
Solution Approach 2:
The system stores identified gesture patterns in the controller's memory. When a gesture is detected, the controller compares it against these stored copies of known gestures to determine the intended command, enabling recognition of multiple gesture types without requiring complex real-time analysis for each new gesture.
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
Enables passengers to control in-flight services autonomously from their seats, improving convenience and safety by eliminating the need to stand and reducing ambiguity, while also providing touchless options for hygiene during pandemics.
Implementation Method 1
the gesture detection device is at least one of a visual sensing device
Implementation Method 2
the gesture detection device is at least one of a visual sensing device, ultrasound sensing device
Implementation Method 3
the gesture detection device is at least one of a visual sensing device, ultrasound sensing device, an infrared proximity sensing device
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for controlling in-flight services using gestures is disclosed. The system comprises: a gesture detection device (502); an actuator (508); and a controller (504). The controller is configured to: receive a detected free space gesture from the gesture detection device; compare the detected free space gesture to a plurality of identified free space gestures; responsive to identifying a free space gesture from the plurality of identified free space gestures, identify an associated in-flight service based on the identified free space gesture; and responsive to identifying the associated in-flight service, send a first command to the actuator to perform the associated in-flight service.