Development of a new generation of electrically driven aircraft overhead stowage compartment

New developments of technical systems are a very challenging task. This is particularly true for the aviation industries, where extreme lightweight design meets manifold design requirements. Especially the interior structure of an aircraft, which is typically part of a multidisciplinary mechatronic system nowadays, challenges the designer by the multitude of design parameters and influence factors. And on top of it, the cabin has to be ergonomic with a striking appearance. These complex requirements do not allow a standard domain-specific design optimization without a basic multidisciplinary design methodology. The research project deals with the development of a systematic approach to realize the multidisciplinary conceptual and structural design process of lightweight structures, which are part of a mechatronic system. Results are demonstrated by the creation of design concepts for a new generation of aircraft overhead stowage compartment and its guidance from the concept to the prototype stage. Innovative character and challenge of the presented stowage compartment is mainly driven by the removal of the classic housing, a significant stowage enlargement that implies the increase of the payload and demands for a supporting actuator for opening and closing, improved ergonomics in terms of loading and presence in the cabin and a simple structure that meets all mechanical needs at a reduced mass related to comparable existing solutions. For the design, state of the art methods of engineering design for mechatronic systems with their main design stages, system design, domain-specific design and system integration are investigated. The focus of the project is on the system design in the early design stage and on the structural design within the domain-specific design. The present project is funded by Austrian Research Promotion Agency and realized in close collaboration with industry partners from the aviation industries.