In conjunction with Dassault’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform, “Passenger Experience” means to transform engineering data and CAD designs into high-end 3D visualizations. Once collated into Dassault’s software, PE can provide anyone from engineers to interior designers to marketers with an immersive way to interrogate their product. What’s immersive mean in this context? We’ll, if I’m to believe what I’m seeing in Dassault’s press photo, PE will be a Virtual Reality system, complete with goofy goggles and all.
According to Dassault, PE’s value lies in its ability to deliver the following features:
· Codified standards allow teams to design without worry of breaking rules or regulations, allowing for quicker, easier cabin design.
· Real-time cabin configuration and immersive validation allowing quicker turnaround for design configurations as well as reduced engineering changes.
· PE data can be turned into different forms of training and visualizations, including interactive “gamified” training and immersive 3D visualization. All of this content can reduce pilot and crew training times.
· 3D data lends marketing teams high-end cabin images and videos to promote cabin designs.
So, why is this important? It’s not like aircraft are flying off the shelves like iPhones, right?
Actually, they kind of are.
According to a recently released Dassault white paper, over the next decade aircraft orders are set to increase dramatically. With both Boeing and Airbus introducing next generation aircraft to the commercial market, providers around the world are looking to modernize their fleets.
But wait—aren’t all Dreamliners and A380s built the same?
Sure they are, but what distinguishes each carrier from one another? It isn’t the make of vessel that ferries you to and fro, is it? (Airlines have enough trouble with logistics and budgets. Why would they ever want to tangle with the FAA over design mods?)
No, for passengers the most important aspect of an airplane’s design is its interior and, more importantly, the service-level that the cabin’s layout allows a carrier to provide.
So it stands to reason, why would a carrier ever consider signing up for a fleet overhaul without the tools needed to visualize and assess the customization of their new interiors?
“We are convinced that the Dassault Systèmes ‘Passenger Experience’ will help to better differentiate from competitors and more efficiently meet customers’ demands,” said Martin Rehmet, Product Manager at RECARO Aircraft Seating. “The results of our initial project with the sales configurator have exceeded our expectations.”
Beyond its pre-production visualization capabilities, “Passenger Experience” might also provide passengers a way to preview the cabins of different airlines to see which best suits their needs.
Though that might seem trivial, I think anyone who’s been packed into the cattle-cars that pass for aircraft today would be more than happy to pass their hard-earned cash to the company that makes air travel more comfortable.
At this point, Dassault hasn’t released pricing for Passenger Experience. Given that the software is “based on” the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, I imagine it will be priced as a premium add-on for the platform.