INTER IOR S I NNOVATION seating
Collins’ extended reality
experience
Collins Aerospace has been working on
an immersive virtual reality (VR) and
augmented reality (AR) experience as
part of its 2020 marketing. On the VR
side, users can virtually explore a
number of different cabin layouts and
investigate seating products and their
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
162 MARCH 2020
differentiating platform features
through an immersive and interactive
environment. From an AR perspective,
users can check out various products,
including configurations
and specifications, through a tablet
viewing platform.
AR enhances
maintenance
Jamco America has commissioned an augmented reality
(AR) training tool, designed to enable mechanics in the
field to access whatever assistance is required for seat
maintenance, no matter where in the world
a problem arises. The company partnered
with Object Theory, an early pioneer
in AR technology, to create the seat
maintenance training tool for the
Venture business class seat, which
uses Microsoft HoloLens VR headsets
to enable hands-free training without
reference to a separate user manual.
The system audibly communicates user
instructions while computer-generated
images create a guiding overlay on
the seat.
Using the technology, Jamco America’s
product support representatives can
communicate in real time with mechanics
via remote assist. Both individuals are then
able to see the same product and work
together – through AR – to resolve any
customer concerns.
BUTTERFLY
COLLABORATION
Butterfly Flexible Seating Solutions, Sekisui Kydex,
Tapis, and MGR Foamtex have joined forces to
develop a flexible seating solution that allows instant
transformation between premium economy/regional
business class seating and long-haul flat-bed suites.
“With our partners’ know-how, we can put
Butterfly in the position to be competitive with both
standard recliners as well as business class lie-flat
suites. We are in the process of creating a seat that
we are happy to sell, airlines are thrilled to buy, and
passengers are delighted to sit in,” says Lars Rinne,
Butterfly’s co-founder and commercial director.
Sekisui Kydex is collaborating with Butterfly to
develop customer-specific material solutions using
Kydex thermoplastics, which are
lightweight, safe, strong and
recyclable. The innovative seat
design challenged the team, with
more than 16 individual parts
rapidly prototyped in its appLab
innovation centre.
“What a fantastic opportunity
to fast-track our project in the
designLab and appLab facilities.
Everything we needed was at our
fingertips,” states Catherine Barber,
CMF designer for the project.
Read about
virtual, augmented
and mixed reality
technology in cabin
design on p114
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com