System and method for managing aircraft bin space
Systems and methods are described for managing overhead bin space in an aircraft or other vehicle. An available space or the used space with an overhead bin can be measured using a set of sensors. Using information from the set of sensors, a dongle can determine a shape and volume of the used or unused space within the overhead bin. With this information, the available space can then be reported including the number of roller bags that would fit in the overhead bin or whether there are objects that are not roller bags within the overhead bin.
1. A method for managing overhead bin space in a vehicle, comprising:
providing a set of sensors configured to record data about one or more storage spaces within the vehicle;
providing a dongle communicatively coupled with the set of sensors;
capturing initial information using the set of sensors when the one or more storage spaces are empty to generate initial data points about the one or more storage spaces;
capturing secondary information about the one or more storage spaces using the set of sensors to generate a second set of data points about the one or more storage spaces;
receiving the initial information and the secondary information at the dongle, and analyzing the initial and secondary information to determine a shape and volume of the used or unused space within the one or more storage spaces by calculating a difference between the second set of data points and the saved initial data points; and
reporting a status of the one or more storage spaces, wherein the status comprises at least one of an empty state, a partially filled state, and a full state.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the status further comprises an estimated number of roller bags that can be stored in the unused space within one or more storage spaces.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the status further comprises an indication whether there are objects that are not roller bags within the one or more storage spaces.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of sensors comprises a camera and a distance measurement device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a set of indicator lights positioned at or near the one or more storage spaces; and wherein the dongle is configured to illuminate one or more of the set of indicator lights based on the status.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a set of indicator lights positioned at or near the one or more storage spaces; and
wherein the dongle is configured to change a color of light illuminated by one or more of the set of indicator lights based on the status.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising analyzing a distance between the distance measurement device and a floor of the one or more storage spaces to generate an initial distance.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
if the status comprises the empty state, analyze a distance between the distance measurement device and the floor of the one or more storage spaces to generate a first distance; and
if the first distance is less than the initial distance, transmit an alert to the dongle.
9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
powering off the camera after an image of the one or more storage spaces is captured;
capturing a second image using the camera when the distance measurement device detects a change in distance between the distance measurement device and the floor of the one or more storage spaces; and
powering off the camera after the second image is captured.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more storage spaces comprise one or more overhead bins within the vehicle.
11. A system for managing overhead bin space in a vehicle, comprising:
a set of sensors configured to record data and transmit information about an overhead bin, wherein the set of sensors comprises at least a camera and a distance measurement device; and
a dongle configured to receive the information;
wherein the dongle is further configured to compare the received information with saved data points previously measured when the overhead bin space was known to be empty and determine a shape and volume of the remaining overhead bin space by calculating a difference between the received information and the saved data points; and
wherein the dongle is further configured to report a status of the overhead bin based on the shape and volume of the remaining overhead bin space, wherein the status comprises at least one of an empty state, a partially filled state, and a full state.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the dongle is further configured to determine whether an object is present in the overhead bin space.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the dongle is further configured to change a color of light illuminated by a light source disposed at or near the overhead bin, or power on or off a light source disposed at or near the overhead bin, to visually alert a state of the overhead bin space.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the dongle is further configured to change a color of light illuminated by a light source disposed at or near the overhead bin, to visually indicate that an overhead bin space is in the full state.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the partially filled state includes an estimated number of roller bags that can be stored within the available overhead bin space.
16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a server configured to receive the status of the overhead bin, and present overhead bin information based on the status on a portable computing device, wherein the overhead bin information comprises an overhead bin identification number, the status and the estimated number of roller bags.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the status further comprises an indication whether there are objects that are not roller bags within the one or more storage spaces.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the distance measurement device is further configured to analyze a distance between the distance measurement device and a floor of the overhead bin to generate an initial distance.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the distance measurement device is further configured to analyze a second distance between the distance measurement device and the floor of the overhead bin when the status comprises the empty state, compare the second distance with the initial distance, and transmit an alert to the dongle if the second distance is less than the initial distance.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the camera is configured to capture an image when the distance measurement device detects a change in distance between the distance measurement device and the floor of the overhead bin.