An aircraft cabin that communicates: Research project unites who-is-who of the aviation industry
Whether in galleys, onboard lavatories, or entertainment systems: Even today, aircraft cabins generate a large amount of data, and this amount will increase further. The i+s Cabin 2.0 research program sets out to network the data and to provide completely new possibilities for airlines. Key words are predictive maintenance and highest passenger comfort. It's a convincing project: with its alliance partners, i+sCabin 2.0 covers all aircraft cabin segments such as cabin management and in-seat power, cabin interior, light, and Smart Galley. Top aviation industry companies and leading universities are already committed and other partners show interest.
Continuous data exchange with the ground system
i+sCabin 2.0 holds promise for airlines. Soon, they can significantly reduce their downtimes due to maintenance and repairs. Background: While still in the air, data will be exchanged with the ground station and analyzed automatically. This includes the condition of the oven in the galleys, the use of the entertainment system, and even the filling level of the wastewater tanks. As an example, this enables early detection and optimal planning of required maintenance processes and upcoming repairs. The consequence: Airlines no longer have to take their aircraft out of tightly scheduled rotations for several hours at a time, because fault analyses have already been performed and defect components can be replaced immediately at arrival.
Increased passenger comfort
The research project is already analyzing around 100 applications. The aircraft cabin with ground communication has a high potential for more reliability and increased economic efficiency for air traffic. In addition, i+sCabin 2.0 is developing new functions leading to more comfort and service.
In a unique partnership, airlines set their own tone
i+sCabin 2.0 is unique. No other research project entails a similar amount of expertise on the topic 'cabin'. As alliance partners, airlines can benefit and set their own tone. For example: Cabin inspections will no longer be performed manually, but automated; boarding will be optimized, and individual devices such as a passenger service unit can be assigned wirelessly to a specific seating group. The project i+sCabin 2.0 will directly integrate the airlines' knowledge of specific processes in the cabin and the challenges and wants for the cabin of the future.
Bühler Motor Aviation, Diehl Aviation, Jeppesen, Safran Cabin and Thales Deutschland are involved under the alliance leadership of Diehl Aerospace. Seat manufacturer Adient Aerospace has also been participating since the beginning of the year. Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg and TU Hamburg are partners from the world of science. Alliance partners are Airbus Operations, ANS, Boeing, NEVEON Austria, and Thales.
The i+sCabin2.0 research project started at the beginning of 2022 and is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK)). As of November 2025, the research results can be experienced in an evaluation plattform.
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