Dabico – Airline power supply solution
Pushing a sustainable solution by transforming power delivery
Next generation power supply on the apron. When a plane is parked and the engine’s are not running there is a need of energy for cleaning, air-conditioning, recharging etc. currently, diesel powered generators are used to supply this energy. The new Electric Ground Power Unit (e-GPU) delivers emission-free energy and gives ground personal lots of flexibility. It makes the work environment more healthy and the reduced CO2 emission helps the airline industry achieve their sustainability goals.
A battery on wheels
Together with Dabico we made sure the overall housing is developed in such a way that battery packs can be placed in a modular way which enhances the flexibility and makes their product and business case future proof.
VanBerlo proposed a structure from high-impact, low maintenance thermoformed shells. Cable bays are large and easily accessible, and a single vertical door makes all serviceable areas visible.
Design Process
Listening to the ground personnel and their pains we focused on how we could design the e-GPU in a way that usability, safety, regulations and efficiency go hand in hand while still expressing the brand identity, clean energy and the uniqueness of the product.
CO2 and NOX emissions free + low noise
The emission-free 400Hz e-GPU will replace 400Hz diesel generators GPU and help airports become CO2 and NOX emission neutral and noise free, therefore creating much better working environments for ground staff.
Overall the e-GPU offers several benefits, including a reduced environmental impact, improved health and safety. Operationally this translates to faster charging and discharging, ease of operation and service and lower operating costs.
Wings for Aid
A project of this size requires a holistic view on all the topics involved; from technical opportunities to the box itself that contains the supplies. Asking ourselves a lot of questions: How will this drone reach its destination? How will it hold the package? How will we train the pilot? How can we manage the logistics? Finding temporary solutions for testing and improvement. Giving advice on how this drone should be designed.
We’re not from the aviation industry, but we can offer surprising insights and ideas. Like, for example, making the cargo bay out of PET-G that is used in blister packs: cheap and transparent so we can see what’s happening during testing. Developing a security system that prevents the boxes from falling when they are not yet supposed to be dropped. Adding a manual possibility to drop the supplies in emergencies. In short, realizing a wild idea step by step to make it come true.
Together we can make the world a better place
