Overhead Bin Capacity Sensing With Visual Feedback for Boarding Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passengers and crew face challenges in efficiently utilizing overhead bin space during boarding due to varying luggage sizes and non-uniform placement, leading to delays and stress, while airlines face profitability issues from weight limitations and checked baggage restrictions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing smart space indicators using sensors and light-emitting means to display the available capacity of overhead bins, allowing for real-time visualization and potential rearrangement of luggage to optimize space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If passengers are allowed to carry more hand luggage to skip baggage claim and avoid lost/damaged baggage risks, then passenger convenience and security are improved, but aircraft weight limitations and safety concerns are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements smart space indicators that provide real-time feedback to passengers about available overhead bin space. Sensors detect luggage placement and update visual indicators (LEDs or displays) to show space availability, enabling passengers to make informed decisions about where to place their hand luggage without exceeding weight limits or causing safety issues.
2Adaptability or versatility
If passengers place luggage non-uniformly in overhead bins, then individual passenger needs are accommodated, but boarding efficiency is worsened due to delays and space utilization issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback through visual indicators that show passengers the current space availability in each overhead bin. This enables adaptive luggage placement where passengers can respond to actual space conditions, optimizing both individual needs and overall boarding efficiency by preventing overcrowding and facilitating smoother luggage distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic monitoring system that continuously tracks space availability in overhead bins during the boarding process. The visual indicators update in real-time as luggage is placed, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and guide subsequent passengers to optimal bin locations, thereby improving boarding efficiency while maintaining placement flexibility.
3Reliability
If airlines impose strict limits on hand baggage to maintain weight limitations and safety standards, then safety and profitability are improved, but passenger convenience is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The smart space indicator system provides transparent, real-time feedback to passengers about available space in overhead bins. This enables passengers to self-regulate their luggage placement within safety limits, eliminating the need for arbitrary restrictions while maintaining safety standards. The system effectively communicates capacity constraints to passengers, allowing them to make informed decisions about their hand baggage.
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
Enhances passenger convenience by providing clear space availability information, reduces boarding delays, and improves airline efficiency by optimizing luggage distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sensors configured to enable detection of a parameter indicative of a usable amount of space within the overhead bin, each of the plurality of sensors comprises a receiver, and signals into receivers of the plurality of sensors span an interior space of the overhead bin
Implementation Method 2
a light-emitting means configured to display a plurality of visual indicators
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices for configuring and using on-board luggage space availability indicators are provided. An example method includes initializing multiple sensors, each of which includes a receiver, in an interior space of on overhead bin, using the receiver in each of the multiple sensors to acquire a signal, and determining, based on the received signals, an amount of empty space corresponding to a respective sensor of the multiple sensors. Based on the amount of empty space indicated by each of the multiple sensors, one of multiple visual indicators is selected. Herein, each of the multiple visual indicators is indicative of a different available capacity of the overhead bin, e.g., a first visual indicator indicates the overhead bin is empty, whereas a last visual indicator indicates the overhead bin has no more space for additional luggage. The overhead bin visual indicator is then displayed using a light-emitting means.