Future Aerospace Oven
Focusing on flight attendants and airplane efficiency
Student project
Group members: N.Rinkes, R.Hoek, X.Zhang, Q.Wang
TUDelft
2024/25 - 20 Weeks
The problem
Plane guests love warm meals and airlines have to provide them. Large aircrafts are equipped with up to 36 identical ovens. Flight attendants are stressed to start each oven and are frequently exposed to hot steam exploding in their face or their arms burning on the side of the door. These ovens are part of an throughly engineered ecosystem which is required to withstand great forces and meet aerospace regulations.
To be realised within 5 years
To address the future of an aerospace oven we wanted to improve the usability of the ovens and also the energy and weight efficiency. This concept is plausible to be launched with the next generation aircraft in five years.
Our vision for
the future ovens in aircrafts
When flying becomes increasingly comfortable and tailored towards customers the centre of it will be an array of ovens providing freshly heated meals. These ovens will be designed to assist flight attendants being safe, efficient and easy to use.
User research
Through interviews with over 20 international flight attendants (Dutch, German and Chinese). Qualitative and Quantitative findings were statistically documented and lead to meaningful design decisions.
Interview findings
1) Flight attendants risk burns on the inside of the door, when opened.
2) Oven setup is very time consuming especially right after takeoff.
3) Each kilo saved will reduce fuel consumption drastically.
4) Galley insert dimensions are normed and essential for structural integrity.
5) Meal carrier dimensions are normed and individual for each airline.
Design process
Sliding door challenges
Requires space inside the oven
Controllable sliding motion
Folding door challenges
Requires space above the oven
Air tight hinge & longevity
Handle height when opened
Final design
More sustainable, safer, faster and efficient
Double width
By changing the ovens outer dimensions to exactly double this results in minimal galley changes and weight savings. Each double sized oven saves around 4.8kg compared to two small ovens.
Door motion
Opening upwards prevents the hot surface to be exposed or the door from being mis used as a tray. Fully stowed the handle stays exposed allowing fast closing. When opening the door fully retracts in one motion and requires little effort due to springs.
Always front facing handle
Hot surfaces disappear into the oven
Minimising space in the galley
The mechanism behind the motion
Rails, spring loaded hinges, tension cables and rotation axles allowed us to make a prototype of the door.
This mechanism is inspired by the NEFF Slide & Hide oven. We have changed dimensions and reduced weight to optimise for aerospace use.
Safety
Hot steam and water droplets eject when the ovens when opened quickly.
2-step unlock allows for secure door movement to de-steam before opening
Locking mechanism
The locking is robust, allows motorised opening (de-steaming) and being slammed shut.
Centralised control
To capitalise on existing tablets aboard each aircraft we've developed an interface which allows controlling individual, grouped or all ovens at once. Reducing stress and increasing speed, oversight and efficiency for flight attendants.
Aircraft overview
Oven information
Grouped oven setup
On-oven controls
Local controls on the ovens allow spontaneous changes and functional security.
Prototype
We built a 1:1 final prototype which showcased the LED strip functionalities, double width, on-oven interface, and sliding door. The handle levelled and was squeezable, which unlocked a latch and kept the springs lifting the door.
