LG Display, LIG Nex1, Boeing showcase smart cabin tech at expo

[Courtesy of LG Display Co.]

South Korea’s LG Display Co. announced on Wednesday that it has presented smart cabin technology at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2024 in Hamburg, Germany, in collaboration with LIG Nex1 Co. and Boeing Co.

The new smart cabin technology unveiled at the expo, which runs until Thursday, focuses on the application and control of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for aircraft use, according to LG Display.

LG Display, LIG Nex1, and Boeing had worked on the technology since 2020, mainly led by the Boeing Korea Engineering and Technology Center.

LG Display developed OLED panels for aircraft, while LIG Nex1 was responsible for the software and hardware that operate OLED systems, including the networking and integration systems for in-flight entertainment.

A number of OLED panels were displayed at the show, including a 55-inch panel for the aircraft entry area, a curved OLED panel for the aircraft ceiling, a 30-inch transparent OLED panel for cabin partitions, and a 27-inch panel for the crew galley.

The three companies plan to conduct ground and flight tests this year through Boeing‘s ecoDemonstrator program with the goal of commercializing the technology.

Michael Sohn, vice president of Boeing Encore Interiors, said advanced OLED displays enhance airlines’ ability to express their brand identity and create additional revenue opportunities. He emphasized the continued cooperation and support of various Korean companies.

Lee Min-hyoung, Vice President of Corporate Strategy at LG Display, highlighted the “unique value of high-resolution and ultra-lightweight OLED solutions for aircraft”.

Kim Jeong-yeol, head of the Avionics and Drones Research Center at LIG Nex1, expressed hopes to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic aerospace industry by leveraging LIG Nex1‘s expertise in the defense sector.

AIX is the world’s largest exhibition of aircraft interiors and in-flight entertainment equipment, attracting over 13,000 participants from more than 400 companies, including airlines and aircraft parts manufacturers.