LIG Nex1 Targets Global Aircraft Interior Market with Boeing and LG Display

OLED Technology Showcased at Aircraft Interior Expo

Three Companies Collaborate to Unveil Curved and Transparent Panels

LIG Nex1, a leading South Korean defense company, is drawing attention by participating in an international event in the aircraft interior sector.

LIG Nex1 showcased its innovative smart cabin technology at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024, held from the 28th to the 30th (local time) in Hamburg, Germany, alongside global companies such as Boeing and LG Display.

The OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) technology introduced at this event is being praised for elevating the in-flight passenger experience to a new level. AIX is the world's largest exhibition for aircraft interiors and in-flight entertainment equipment, with over 13,000 participants from more than 400 companies, including airlines and aircraft parts manufacturers.

The smart cabin technology unveiled at this event is the result of a joint development project led by the Boeing Korea Engineering & Technology Center (BKETC) and three companies since 2020. The focus was on applying and controlling OLED panels for aircraft use.

For this AIX exhibition, the three companies collaborated with Boeing EnCore Interiors, a Boeing subsidiary, to present cases of OLED panel applications inside Boeing aircraft.

Smart cabin equipped with curved and large OLED panels.

They showcased a 55-inch large OLED panel installed at the aircraft entrance area, a curved OLED panel fitted to the aircraft ceiling curve, a 30-inch transparent OLED panel installed as a partition between cabins, and a 27-inch OLED panel installed in the crew galley.

These panels can display a variety of information such as captain's messages, in-flight duty-free sales, weather conditions, as well as airline branding. In addition, their lighter weight compared to LCDs can help improve operational cost efficiency for airlines.

LG Display was responsible for developing OLED panels for aircraft that offer higher reliability and safety than standard OLED panels. OLEDs, with each pixel emitting its own light, are not only effective for content display in dark environments like aircraft cabins but are also lightweight and flexible, making them an optimal display solution for the limited space in aircraft.

LIG Nex1 is responsible for developing software and hardware for operating the OLED panel system, as well as systems that can interface with cabin entertainment networks and support for system integration. Through low-power, high-efficiency design, LIG Nex1 plans to develop equipment optimized for the aircraft operating environment.

The three companies plan to continue technology development and testing to apply OLED technology to aircraft. First, Boeing's ecoDemonstrator, a test aircraft equipped with this smart cabin technology, will undergo ground and flight tests within the year.

Boeing's ecoDemonstrator has accelerated innovation by testing promising technologies in actual flight environments to solve real-world challenges faced by airlines, passengers, and the environment.

Dylan Jones, head of BKETC, said, "Since its establishment in 2019, BKETC has been committed to research and development across various fields, including AI, avionics, and software development, by attracting outstanding domestic talent. We are pleased to showcase our efforts to the world through this Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy project," adding, "We will continue to contribute to revolutionizing the passenger experience by equipping various aircraft with smart cabin technology in the future."

Michael Son, vice president of EnCore, stated, "Advanced OLED screens perfectly harmonize with cabin structures, offering modern aesthetics, enhancing airlines' ability to express brand identity, enabling more proactive communication with passengers, and opening doors to additional ancillary revenue opportunities. Based on this OLED technology showcase, we will continue to cooperate and support more Korean companies to enter the aircraft interior market."

Lee Minhyeong, executive director of strategy at LG Display, emphasized, "OLED solutions for aircraft are expected to provide passengers with a new flight experience based on unique values only OLED can offer, such as high resolution and ultra-lightweight. We will continue to pioneer new OLED markets through close collaboration with our customers."

Kim Jeongyeol, head of the Aerospace Research Institute at LIG Nex1, said, "The smart cabin showcased at this exhibition is an innovative solution that will maximize airline customer service and user experience. We hope this will serve as an opportunity for LIG Nex1 to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic aerospace industry based on our expertise accumulated in the defense sector and to find new growth engines in the civilian sector."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.