Abstract: A trolley assembly includes a trolley housing defining an internal cavity. The assembly includes at least one ultra-violet (UV) illumination system contained within the internal cavity in a stowed position. The UV illumination system configured and adapted to extend outward from the internal cavity in a deployed position. The trolley assembly includes a battery in electrical communication with the at least one UV illumination system.

Abstract: A trolley assembly includes a trolley housing defining an internal cavity. The assembly includes at least one ultra-violet (UV) illumination system contained within the internal cavity in a stowed position. The UV illumination system configured and adapted to extend outward from the internal cavity in a deployed position. The trolley assembly includes a battery in electrical communication with the at least one UV illumination system.

Abstract: There is provided herein an aircraft including at least one aircraft galley container and a controller. Each one of the at least one aircraft galley container includes a safety feature having a first mode and a second mode, and a controller for automatically selecting one of the first mode and second mode of the safety feature and placing the safety feature in the selected mode. The automatic selection of the mode is dependent on a condition of the aircraft satisfying or failing to satisfy a predetermined condition. There is also provided a method of operating a safety feature of an aircraft galley container.

Abstract: A device can include an enclosure defining an interior having an enclosure volume and configured to hold one or more items, a heat system configured to heat the interior of the enclosure, a fluid system configured to input a known amount of a fluid (e.g., water, steam, air) into the enclosure, and a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure within the enclosure. The device can include an item volume deduction module operatively connected to the pressure sensor and the fluid system. The item volume deduction module can be configured to correlate a pressure increase caused by injection of a known amount of the fluid (e.g., water, steam, air) in the enclosure to a total item volume of the one or more items within the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of fragrance release within an aircraft having a cabin and an environmental control system for controlling the cabin environment. The method includes: receiving a current aircraft status from the aircraft's environmental control system, wherein the current aircraft status comprises one of: boarding, take-off, breakfast service, lunch service, dinner service, beverage service, sleep mode, cruise, landing, deboarding and emergency; determining an appropriate fragrance for the current aircraft status from a plurality of fragrance sources; and releasing the appropriate fragrance for the current aircraft status into the aircraft's cabin.

Abstract: A solid-state radio frequency (SSRF) water heating apparatus is disclosed. In embodiments, the SSRF water heater includes a water tank, SSRF generator array and RF sensors enclosed within an RF-shielded cage. The SSRF array synthesizes RF signals in the microwave range and transmits the RF energy through the water tank, exciting and heating the water molecules without direct contact. The RF sensors at the opposite end of the tank sense residual RF energy not absorbed by the water. Control processors regulate the generation and transmission of the RF energy based on the sensed residual energy. The heated water and/or generated steam is piped to hot water dispensers, beverage makers, or steam ovens.

Abstract: A method of pairing foods, performed on a smart device includes combining data from at least two of: a food pairing database, which comprises data based on taste profiles of said foods, a food heating profile database, which comprises data based on a length of time said foods require in order to be cooked, and a taste correction at altitude database, which comprises data based on a taste of said food at a particular altitude, and comparing said data, and outputting an optimized pairing of foods, based on one or more of taste, heating time and taste at altitude.

Abstract: An aerospace galley insert includes an oven defining therein an oven inner cavity for receiving food to be prepared and a fluid supply for supplying fluid comprising water or water vapour to the oven inner cavity. The galley also includes an exterior space, a heat pipe extending between the cavity and the exterior space, a first temperature sensor for detecting a first temperature in the cavity, a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature in the exterior space, and a third temperature sensor for detecting a third temperature of the heat pipe where it extends into the exterior space. The system also includes a control unit configured to determine an actual water vapour concentration in the oven inner cavity based on the first, second and third temperatures, and configured to control the fluid supply in order to adjust the actual water vapour concentration to a target water vapour concentration.

Abstract: A system for monitoring traffic in aircraft cabins includes conductive wire in aisle carpeting and sensors to register pressure via capacitance changes. The system identifies the volume and location of traffic in aircraft aisles via registered changes to voltage, current, and/or conductivity of the conductive wire, and sensors embedded in the carpet. Measurements over time establish changes in traffic flow and directionality which may be used to direct crew members in flight. Lighting elements may be incorporated into the carpet to provide signals to passengers and crew via the lighting elements.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of RFID readers distributed throughout an aircraft cabin. The RFID readers are configured to read RFID tags attached to luggage items. The system also includes a controller operatively connected to the plurality of RFID readers. The controller includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to receive RFID readings from the plurality of RFID readers and track locations of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. A method comprises tracking RFID tags affixed to luggage items within an aircraft cabin to monitor distribution and/or movement of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. Tracking RFID tags includes detecting the RFID tags using a plurality of RFID readers located in overhead bins of the aircraft cabin.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of RFID readers distributed throughout an aircraft cabin. The RFID readers are configured to read RFID tags attached to luggage items. The system also includes a controller operatively connected to the plurality of RFID readers. The controller includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to receive RFID readings from the plurality of RFID readers and track locations of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. A method comprises tracking RFID tags affixed to luggage items within an aircraft cabin to monitor distribution and/or movement of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. Tracking RFID tags includes detecting the RFID tags using a plurality of RFID readers located in overhead bins of the aircraft cabin.

Abstract: A device can include an enclosure defining an interior having an enclosure volume and configured to hold one or more items, a heat system configured to heat the interior of the enclosure, a fluid system configured to input a known amount of a fluid (e.g., water, steam, air) into the enclosure, and a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure within the enclosure. The device can include an item volume deduction module operatively connected to the pressure sensor and the fluid system. The item volume deduction module can be configured to correlate a pressure increase caused by injection of a known amount of the fluid (e.g., water, steam, air) in the enclosure to a total item volume of the one or more items within the enclosure.

Abstract: A method for collecting and testing particulates from aircraft air is disclosed. The method includes capturing particulates in at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path with a collector over a period of time, removing the collector from at least one of the outlet flow path or the recirculation flow path for testing, concentrating the collected sample, conducting a test on at least one particulate captured in the collector, relaying a result of the test to a central data center to store the results, and identifying a previously non-described emerging pathogens within the results.

Abstract: A modular aircraft galley insert for performing thermal cycling for PCR testing includes a housing having a sample module for receiving a sample to be tested, a thermal module thermally connected to the sample module for cycling temperatures of the sample to be tested, a power module for providing power to the thermal module, a detector module configured to analyze the sample and connected to receive power from the power module, and a connectivity module for communicating results of a test from the detector module to a remote location with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A system for collecting a biological sample from a passenger cabin includes a collector for collecting particulate samples positioned within at least one of a passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path. A method for collecting particulates from cabin air includes capturing particulates in at least one of a passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path with a collector for a period of time. The method includes removing the collector from at least one of the passenger cabin or air outflow flow path for testing. The method includes placing a clean collector into at least one of the passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path for use during another period of time.

Abstract: A system for monitoring aircraft air including a vessel having an inlet, a conical main body for extracting particles from the air coating an inner surface on the conical main body, and an outlet, wherein the outlet is to be positioned within at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path of an aircraft, and at least one of an outflow valve positioned in the outlet flow path downstream from the collector or a HEPA filter positioned in the recirculation flow path downstream from the collector.

Abstract: A system for collecting a biological sample from a passenger cabin includes a collector for collecting particulate samples positioned within at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path. The system includes at least one of an outflow valve positioned in the outlet flow path downstream from the collector or a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter positioned in the recirculation flow path downstream from the collector. A method for collecting particulates from cabin air includes capturing particulates in at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path with a collector for a period of time, removing the collector from at least one of the outlet flow path or the recirculation flow path for testing, and inserting a clean collector into at least one of the outlet flow path or the recirculation flow path for use during another period of time.

Abstract: A method for collecting an aircraft cabin representative biological sample from an aircraft HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter including collecting a used HEPA filter after flight, transferring the HEPA filter to a remote location, processing the HEPA filter in order to remove an air sample, and concentrating the collected sample to be used on a pathogen identifying tester.

Abstract: A system for monitoring aircraft air including a collector for collecting particulate samples positioned within at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path of an environmental control system of an aircraft, wherein the collector is accessible to a user within the cabin of the aircraft.

Abstract: An adaptive cooking system includes an oven with at least one heating element configured to heat the oven, at least one steam generator configured to produce steam within the oven, and at least one fan configured to circulate air within the oven. The adaptive cooking system further includes at least one thermometer configured to detect a temperature of air circulating within the oven. A controller is communicatively coupled to the oven components. The controller is configured to cause the fan to circulate air within the oven for a predetermined amount of time. For example, the fan may initially circulate air within the oven while the heating element and the steam generator are turned off or powered down. The controller is further configured to detect a temperature of the air and control the heating element and the steam generator based on the temperature of the air.