Described is an aircraft suite having an aircraft seat for use by a passenger, the aircraft suite also having a controller, for controlling a number of output states of the aircraft suite, the controller having a logic condition receiver for receiving a logic condition input, and distance measurement equipment for measuring a distance between a first location within the suite and a second location within the suite, and providing a distance input to a distance receiver of the controller, wherein, in use, the controller controls at least one of the output states of the aircraft suite based upon both the logic condition input and the distance input. The invention also provides a method of controlling an environment within an aircraft suite.

A life vest inspection system includes a plurality of NFC readers positioned to communicate with at least one NFC tag associated with a life vest or its packaging. The NFC readers are integrated with an in-flight entertainment system, such that the inspection of all life vests can be conducted simultaneously and without a crew member moving throughout the cabin to individually inspect each life vest or row-by row/section by section.

A stowage container including a barrier such as a door or access panel and a breach detector for monitoring and/or detecting a breach of the barrier. The breach detector includes an indicator assembly having a slot that can be positioned between, and defined by, a front panel and a back panel of the barrier, and an indicator within the slot. The indicator assembly further includes a retainer that maintains the indicator in a first state when the barrier is in a first position (e.g., closed or sealed) and which releases the indicator into a second state when the barrier moves from the first position to a second position (e.g., open or breached). Upon returning the barrier to the first position, the indicator remains in the second state until the indicator reset to the first state.

Provided are methods and systems for automated location and identification of multiple objects in an aircraft cabin. A method utilizes a wireless client, RFID reader, and camera, which together form a set. Each set is associated with a specific inspection zone in the cabin. The RFID reader determines the presence of a RFID tag in only one zone. Further, the camera captures an image of that zone. A data feedback is generated based on both the image and the RFID reader response. The data feedback is transmitted by the wireless client to a router and is analyzed to determine the presence of the object in the inspection zone and, if present, the identity of the object. The data feedback is associated with the location of the zone in the aircraft cabin, which is known or may be determined using a set of wireless routers positioned throughout the cabin.

A life vest pouch is closed by overlapping panels. A male panel is attached to an upper face portion and includes three inserted flaps and a female panel is attached to a lower face portion and includes four cuts. Two center cuts are vertical and receive opposite ends of a center flap and two outer cuts receive outer flaps. The opposite ends of the center flap are generally triangular and overlap the outer flaps. The panels are made from polycarbonate or the like. The pouch is opened by pulling a strap attached to the lower face portion. A tamper proof seal is attached to both upper and lower face portions and is torn if the pouch is opened.

A method for detecting tampering with a stowage container can include configuring the stowage container, the stowage container comprising a container housing and a barrier, wherein edges of the barrier overlap edges of the container housing to prevent access to an interior of the stowage container between the container housing and the barrier when the barrier is in a closed position. A tamper-evident device can be positioned such that the tamper-evident device is viewable from at least one predetermined eyepoint under an ambient light environment. The tamper-evident device can be configured to be inaccessible from an exterior of the stowage container and provides a distinct color contrast with the stowage container and an indication that tampering has occurred.

A seating device comprises a seat bottom unit, in particular an aircraft seat bottom unit, having an accommodating region for receiving a module, in particular a lifejacket module, with at least one upper wall element which forms at least a support surface for a comfort element.

A life vest stowage device comprises a receptacle with a receptacle opening. The device has first and second tabs with first and second tab apertures. In a closed configuration, a closure flap is in a folded position in which it at least partially covers the opening. The first and second tabs are exposed through the closure flap to allow access to the tab apertures from an outer side of the closure flap. A pull strap extends from the interior volume through the opening and over the outer side of the closure flap. The pull strap has a pull strap aperture securable to the first and second tab apertures by a frangible seal, such that the closure flap can only be moved to an unfolded position by moving the pull strap aperture and the first and second tab apertures away from one another so as to break the frangible seal.

According to various embodiments, a system for, and method of, detecting the opening of a lid of a compartment constructed of a rigid material. The system includes a resonator disposed on a wall of the compartment, where the resonator has a resonant frequency of mechanical vibration. The system also includes a member disposed on the lid of the compartment and positioned to perturb the resonator upon opening the lid, such that opening the lid causes the resonator to mechanically vibrate at the resonant frequency. The system also includes an electronic sensor disposed on the compartment to detect vibrations at the resonant frequency. The system also includes an interface communicatively coupled to the electronic sensor and configured to provide a signal indicating lid opening data representing at least one opening of the lid.

Systems and methods for detecting and reporting a status of safety devices installed in a vehicle having a plurality of seat groups, each seat group having a plurality of neighboring passenger seats. The seats are divided into seat groups. The system includes a plurality of safety devices disposed at the passenger seats and a plurality of safety device sensors coupled to the safety device which detect a safety status of the safety devices and output a signal representing the safety status. The sensors are operably coupled to an onboard management system. The onboard management system is configured to receive safety status signals based on the signals output by the sensors and generate and display on a display monitor a status screen indicating the status of the safety devices.