LIGHTING R E V IEW
AWARDWINNING
INNOVATIONS
An international expert design
jury at the German Design
Council recently recognised
Schott’s HelioJet Spectrum
LED cabin lighting system
as the winner in the Lighting
Solutions category of its
annual awards. Out of more
than 650 entries, Schott’s
system was recognised for its
aesthetics and functionality.
Schott also won the
Materials category of the
‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’
awards for its LuminaLine
lighting concept. The system
was selected out of 5,640
entries from 55 countries and
persuaded the jury with its
unique interplay of light and
transparency that makes new
designs possible.
ai r c raf t inter iorsinternat ional . com 075
NOVEMBER 2019
Bespoke human-centric lighting
Recaro has teamed up with German lighting
start-up, Jetlite (an alumni of the Airbus BizLab
acceleration programme) to develop a concept
for individualised human-centric lighting for
business-class seats. Jetlite has created a
lighting system that is claimed to work with the
inner body clock of passengers to reduce the
effects of jet lag. This system is already available
as a cabin lighting solution (as used by Lufthansa
in its A350s), but it could now be integrated into
seating as a result of this partnership, and used
to control the output of multiple lights in and
around the seat.
Passengers would fill out a brief questionnaire
via an app or upon boarding the plane so the
Jetlite system can determine their chronotype – a
categorisation of their inner-clock based on sleep
behaviour – and how much they would like
to sleep during the flight, as well as
their travel objective. This data is
complemented with variables like
flight route, direction and time
zones crossed, and a scientific
algorithm then establishes a
personalised lighting plan for
that passenger. The data can
be stored to avoid frequent
flyers having to provide it every
time they travel.
The system supports the sleepwake
cycle of passengers by adjusting
the colour, intensity, timing and direction of
light during a long-haul flight. This can either
encourage relaxation or stimulation at the
optimal time and hence decrease the effects
of jet lag. As sleep-wake cycles differ from
one person to another, human-centric Lighting
has the biggest effect when it can be adapted
individually.
Put simply, warm light with a higher red
component would be deployed during periods
when passengers say they want to relax, while
cooler light with a higher blue component
provides stimulation during the phases of the
journey when they want to be more active.
Dr Mark Hiller, CEO of Recaro Aircraft Seating
states, “We are working hard to make Jetlite’s
human-centric lighting concept available soon
as an individual feature integrable in business
class seats. Once launched into the market, it will
provide airlines with a real point of differentiation
against the competition. At the same time,
it will improve passenger comfort
and hence contribute to greater
customer retention.” Inflight VR and
Jetlite are merging
jet lag-fighting
lighting software
with VR IFE
applications
SMART COVER
Jetlite has also developed Lite2fix (with SFS Aircraft Components),
an interface-reduced fastening cover that digitises the cabin,
from manufacturer to passenger. The cover not only allows for
the integration of the company’s human-centric lighting system,
but also for further innovative forms of cabin lighting, such as
airline branding programmes, or the display of information such as
deplaning assistance, seat reservations or finding luggage space.
SMART CONTROLLER
Jetlite has commissioned Silver Atena to develop
a controller to fully automate its cabin lighting
system. Cabin crew would start the lighting
programme with one click through an interface
on the flight attendant panel (FAP), which would
then run automatically throughout the rest of
the flight. The controller is retrofittable as part of
a routine A-check, ensuring standardised cabin
lighting quality across fleets and flight routes.
/www.aircraftinteriorsinternational.com