Tray Table EmPowerment: Astronics Debuts Wireless Charging

October 14, 2015  | Written by APEX Staff

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This article originally appeared in The APEX EXPO Daily Experience – Day One.

APEX Insight: Astronics is cutting the cord by introducing a tray table that wirelessly charges electronic devices. Passengers can simply place their smartphones and tablets on top of the tray to activate wireless charging. Seat manufacturer Recaro and furnishings company, IKEA have also tapped into the technology.

Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems has owned a lion’s share of the market for in-seat power solutions for years, so it’s no surprise it’s leading the latest surge in aircraft power systems: Wireless charging. Making its tradeshow debut in partnership with SmartTray International LLC, Astronics will be displaying a cutting-edge tray table that will allow passengers to wirelessly charge their devices.

“We believe this new technology integrated into the aircraft table is going to create a big buzz at APEX,” says Dennis Markert, director of Business Development and Technical Services at Astronics Corporation. “It’s all about wireless charging. The commercial world is moving toward a cable-less environment.”

Having partnered with SmartTray in April this year to collaborate on a hands-free solution for viewing personal electronics devices, the evolution to an inductive tray table was a natural one. “We think the tray table is one of the most convenient locations [for wireless charging], and with SmartTray’s features, it goes hand in hand,” Markert says. Charging becomes seamless: Passengers only have to place their device on the indicated area of the tray table, and it will charge automatically.

“I think the industry will initially provide this level of convenience to first and business-class passengers,” he notes. Indeed, seat manufacturers such as Recaro are also tapping into the wireless trend, having displayed business-class models with an armrest-charging pad at Aircraft Interiors Expo in April this year.

Also on display will be Astronics’ smallest and most efficient next-generation ISPI product, which will provide three passengers with 110 Volt AC and high power USB. “It seems like everyone recognizes that power is required onboard to take advantage of the latest offerings such as content delivery to passenger PEDs,” Markert notes.