A hand drying system for an aircraft lavatory includes a hand blower tap with an inlet configured to connect to an aircraft environmental control system (ECS) to receive a flow of conditioned air from the ECS. A valve is operatively connected to the inlet to selectively block flow from the ECS and allow flow from the ECS through the hand blower tap.

A maintenance system is provided for an environment conditioning element of an environmental control system (ECS) of a vehicle. The system includes a data collection module configured to receive geographical areas of travel for the vehicle over respective periods of time. The data collection module is configured to determine a pollution value and a time value for each of the geographic areas of travel. The system further includes a pollution count module coupled to the data collection module and receiving the pollution values and the time values. The pollution count module is configured to determine a pollution count for the environment conditioning element based on the pollution values and the time values. The system further includes a reporting module coupled to the pollution count module and receiving the pollution count. The reporting module is configured to generate a report for a user that includes the pollution count.

An environmental control system (ECS) having particulates in air therein includes a sensor, an air purification subsystem, and a controller in communication with the sensor and air purification subsystem. The sensor detects particulates in the air, and generates a particulate concentration signal. The controller: compares the particulate concentration signal to a predicted particulate concentration threshold that is based on one of a probability of odor detection, a probability of sensory irritancy detection, and a combination thereof. When the particulate concentration signal reaches the predicted particulate concentration threshold, the controller commands the air purification subsystem to alter a condition in the air containing the particulates.

A solar power system for a drone. The system including a shell with at least one solar cell adapted for placement on an exterior surface of a drone. The system coupled to a controller, the controller distributing collected solar energy to the various systems of the drone including the power systems containing batteries and the motor systems adapted to propel the drone.

Operational parameters of an aircraft vapor cycle refrigeration system are measured via a plurality of sensors while the vapor cycle refrigeration system is operating. The measured operational parameters are transmitted to a computer system. The computer system generates, using a first reduced order model corresponding to an unclogged state of a filter of the vapor cycle refrigeration system, a first predicted discharge pressure of a compressor based on the measured operational parameters. The computer system generates, using a second reduced order model that corresponds to a clogged state of the filter, a second predicted discharge pressure of the compressor based on the measured operational parameters. The computer system determines a remaining useful life of the filter based on the first predicted discharge pressure, the second predicted discharge pressure, and a measured discharge pressure of the compressor. The computer system outputs an indication of the remaining useful life of the filter.

A system to maintain a phase difference is disclosed. Two or more aircraft fly in a continuous periodic trajectory. The system maintains a phase difference between the two or more aircraft. Telemetry information for a reference aircraft moving in a first periodic trajectory is received. A phase difference between a primary aircraft and the reference aircraft with respect to the first periodic trajectory is determined. A variance in the phase difference between the primary aircraft and the reference aircraft from the target phase difference is determined. A new trajectory for the primary aircraft that decreases the variance in the phase difference with respect to the new periodic trajectory is determined, and the primary aircraft is maneuvered to follow the new trajectory.

Described herein are methods and systems for decontaminating aircraft cabins and providing an indication to provide confidence that the cabins are safe for reentry post-operation. These methods and systems are based on reducing concentrations of infectious agents inside a cabin utilizing outside air and/or filtered air. In some examples, a method is performed after a certain contamination event (e.g., a sick person present on a flight and/or as a part of periodic service (e.g., in between flights. The amount of time the system is run to introduce compounds into the cabin is specifically calculated to lower the fraction of the remaining infectious agents below a certain desired level, thereby reducing the contamination concentration in the cabin from the initial concentration. The decontamination duration depends on the cabin volume and the incoming airflow rates. For example, the fraction of the remaining is brought below 5% after 9 minutes of flowing incoming air at 20 air changes per hour.

A passenger service unit including an ion emitter is disclosed herein. The passenger service unit includes an air outlet assembly, a control unit electronically coupled to the air distribution box, an air gasper assembly coupled to the air distribution box, and an ion emitter coupled to the air gasper assembly and electronically coupled to the control unit, wherein the ion emitter is configured to be controlled by the control unit.

An air purification system for a passenger cabin of a transport vessel. The air purification system comprises an elongated air compartment having a panel, with a plurality of openings along the panel. Air filters reside within the openings to receive air from inside the cabin. The system also includes a plurality of air tubes. Air moves through the air tubes, aided by a source of compressed air, to motive flow valves. The motive flow valves create suction to draw air into the air compartment from the passenger cabin. The system also includes at least one UV-C light source. The UV-C light source resides within the air compartment, and disinfects the air moving through the air compartment. A plurality of air outlets are also placed along the panel, with each outlet configured to release air at selected points to provide a distribution of disinfected air into the passenger cabin.

A ram air fan assembly includes an outer housing. An inner housing is located within the outer housing. A motor is attached to the inner housing. An inlet tube extends between the outer housing and the motor. The inlet tube includes a straight first portion and a curved second portion. At least one of the two portions includes a perforated portion.