Abstract
In the recent past a growing attention to the passenger is emerging overall in the transport domain. Hence, maximising the quality of travelling from the human’s point of view is a new challenge especially in those fields, such as aeronautics, in which technical efficiency, capacity and sustainability have traditionally driven the design process of systems and subsystems. In this context it is crucial to implement an efficient human centred design process in order to foresee the capability of a specific cabin interiors design of meeting the user’s expectations, including the needs related to comfort and well being. By using virtual reality technologies as a vehicle/platform, it allows the users/passengers to experience the interior environment of the cabin long before the actual development and manufacturing of the full size demonstrator. Due to the complex nature of aerospace programmes, typically taking ‘many’ years to develop and productionise, technologies which help reduce programme risk and potential delays are hugely beneficial to all partners involved. In this paper we present the results of a virtual reality based evaluation campaign specifically conceived for the collection of potential users’ feedback in the design of innovative and breakthrough solutions for the business jet industry. The main issues have regarded the identification of the expectation for such an elitist population and the creation of a Virtual Environment to explore the entire cabin as a holistic approach and innovative passenger experience. The work has been performed in the framework the Horizon 2020 project CASTLE (Cabin Systems Design Toward Passenger Well-being).
Highlights
Nowadays it is well recognised that, in order to guarantee an enjoyable, comfortable, and positive flying experience for passengers, designers must consider their requirements and their flight expectations in advance
In this paper we propose to investigate the perceived well-being of passengers on board using Virtual Reality to simulate multiple different cabin scenarios at the early design stage as a contribution to the help inform and validate the design approach and concept strategy of the cabin interior that will truly deliver an innovative and ‘breakthrough’ design solution
The Passive Stereo Theatre is a multiuser virtual environment based on a passive stereo screen arranged in a small theatre-like layout. This facility is normally used for collaborative design reviews, while in CASTLE it is used to introduce the participants to the Business Jet virtual scenario allowing them to familiarize with it before wearing the MicrosoftTM HololensTM and entering the virtual cabin (Fig. 5)
Summary
Nowadays it is well recognised that, in order to guarantee an enjoyable, comfortable, and positive flying experience for passengers, designers must consider their requirements and their flight expectations in advance. It’s important for the designers to understand how specific elements and features of the design can impact the well-being of passengers and their in-flight experience. This is a complex journey scenario to evaluate since, there are many factors at play, besides postural and N&V factors. The target of the modelling process is a subjective variable, for example the perceived comfort of the passengers through all durations of the flight Ie. TTOL, in-flight relaxing/working, dining, sleeping, crew operations etc
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