Virtual reconfiguration and assessment of aircraft cabins using model-based systems engineering

Kurzfassung

In order to create a detailed digital cabin, virtual models are combined with the geometric data of physical cabin components. This digital cabin can be used to analyse maintenance times, find optimization potential or test the integration of new technologies (e.g. hydrogen powered systems). This requires different levels of detail of the virtual cabin model as well as an automated data (e.g. 3D models, parameters) transfer infrastructure between them. However, this model structure is challenged by the complexity of the system to be mapped due to subsystems and interconnections. In addition, it requires an integration and preparation of the transmitted data (3D models, process data). This paper presents a method that addresses these challenges and introduces an architecture for building a virtual cabin for reconfiguration and analysis of new cabin variants. Model-based systems engineering is used to create a digital model of the aircraft cabin and its systems. The model is used for an automated reconfiguration of the cabin and consists of formalized knowledge and requirements. In addition, a 3D scan process is applied that digitizes the physical cabin subcomponents (e.g. riser duct) to increase the level of detail and to consider uncertainties. Subsequently, all data and models are visualized in a virtual reality environment in which users can interact with it and make direct changes to the layout. These changes are automatically transferred to the conceptual cabin design process for an automated reconfiguration and examination of the layout regarding the requirements. As a result, a baseline architecture for the digital cabin has been created, which enables fast system reconfigurability, traceability of changes, identification of interdependencies, and investigation of new cabin variations (retrofit).