Two Fareham firms have unveiled an innovative 'smart fabric' technology which extinguishes lithium-ion battery fires on aircraft.
Engineering solutions provider, Barnbrook Systems, and tech firm, Flair, presented the E-bag at this year's Farnborough International Airshow.
The E-bag is specifically designed for isolating and extinguishing fires caused by tablet and mobile phone batteries on planes.
Its temperature-sensitive fabric smothers the device, thereby cutting off the air supply and effectively extinguishing the fire.
The E-bag also employs Barnbrook's BlueCube technology, which provides live readings of temperature and humidity from inside the bag.
Fires from lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices on board aircraft are on the rise.
In 2023, the UK Civil Aviation Authority received 65 reports of such fires, a 60 per cent increase from the year before.
The Federal Aviation Administration has noted a 42 per cent rise in battery fires between 2018 and 2023.
Such incidents involving overheating batteries causing smoke, extreme heat or even flame, occur roughly once a week.
Flair and Barnbrook's collaboration extends beyond the E-bag.
They have also introduced a personal location beacon which can be used in diverse situations, ranging from man-overboard scenarios to protecting lone workers.
Andrew Barnett, managing director of Barnbrook Systems and a board member of Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, said: "Connectivity is increasing all of the time on aircraft. Passenger services are allowing greater use of PEDs, enhancing internet availability and providing recharging capabilities.
“This can be a recipe for disaster with the danger from so many lithium-ion batteries in a highly-pressurised and risk-adverse environment.
"E-bag’s smart fabric means that PEDs which are alight, overheating or smoking can be safely isolated and extinguished.
“This not only improves safety for passengers and aircrew, and averts potentially life-threatening situations, it also delivers benefits for business continuity, risk management and customer confidence.
"It is smart technology on smart technology – or smart technology cubed - with the combination of smart fabric and BlueCube© having the power to transform travel and safety in aviation and multiple other sectors."
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