Five senses: integrated ergonomic/stylistic design for aircraft interiors
Authors: Corsetto Nicola , Fittipaldi Francesco 
Published: June 2024

In the reference scenario for the design development of aircraft interiors defined through the use of new digital technologies, there is the related research and development activity functional to the application of an innovative operational methodology, aimed at achieving the best aesthetic/functional configuration of the final product. Specifically, this is done through a synergistic and equal action of modeling software for stylistic design CAS (virtual engineering CAD and ergonomic design in a virtual environment) defined then by a subsequent phase of physical production of carefully selected finished products. The application of the methodological and operational action has made it possible to develop ergonomic and styling furnishing complements for seats and PIS (personal Information System) for tourist class of aircraft with low-range mission profiles, focusing on the realization of interiors elements for passenger aircraft with significant modular and ergonomic features. The objective of the project proposal "five senses" combines the operational path with the study and analysis of the state of the design methodology art currently used by manufacturers of aircraft interiors, achieving the highest standards, with a specialized approach developed in multidisciplinary areas. The synthesis of "Five senses" consints in the development and production of interiors focused on the "centrality" of the passenger, with an ergonomic approach aware of anthropometric issues. This is done taking into account the different physical variations of the world's population, which represent the fundamental "dimensional standards" to consider for a right design with necessary sizing criteria. The core of the project definitely focused on the necessary revisiting of the Sw tool (Ergonomic simulator) characterizing it not only in the context of ergonomic verification of the designed elements, but mostly as a functional aesthetic co-design tool for the redesigned furniture, in this case the armchairs and the upper information panel. The definition and "identification of stylistic features and systematization of ergonomic design requirements" will take place through a process of integration of the factors that concur in "human centered" design, i.e. the structuring basis necessary to set up the ergonomic project, where the preliminary phase (the first technical development of the concept) is obtained, and where the first dimensional, technical, functional and material constraints are placed on the project, functional to the maximum stylistic performance of the interiors. For the definition of volume requirements, habitability studies, visibility studies and reachability analysis, an ergonomic simulator was used as a design tool through the interaction of different specialized software for ergonomic verification and 3D modeling in a virtual environment, with anthropomorphic mannequins in three different dimensional standards of the user populations, in the three representative percentiles ( 5th percentile woman, 50th percentile man and 95th percentile man), implemented then in the 3D CAS models of the armchairs and upper information panels, verifying the degree of postural comfort. This innovative approach proves to be helpful to the functional design processes of the cross-disciplinary and multidisciplinary aptitude of the different specialized contexts for the elements involved in the final production of the "five senses" project. In conclusion, the key contribution of this approach has been to receive "real time" design support during the concept design phases, considering both aesthetic and functional canons while fully respecting the delicate balance between aesthetics and habitability. Currently, the target market demands increasingly evident, and verification activities in the virtual environment have defined functional pre-approval requirements in response of the design aircraft to passenger aircraft habitability standards. To date, performing only ergonomic verifications through virtual simulations and comparing the results with previous studies and musculoskeletal analysis has so far helped designers to establish the possible cause of discomfort associated with product use, however with methodological optimization of the integrated procedure, optimization of the results obtained can hopefully be achieved. The approach illustrated here resulted in a "scientific and objective" approach, redefining an interior design through a new line of aesthetic/functional adaptation, as an "excellent" stylistic/ergonomic interface between the seat, PIS and the user, implemented in the finite elements and assembly of the latter within aircraft and then, ready for market.