It would be interesting and refreshing to take a shower on a long flight or during a cross-country bus ride. However, the challenge lies in transporting such a large and heavy amount of water.
Therefore, Boeing has sponsored a research team in Washington State to find a solution to this issue. The team has developed an “in-flight” (or “in-bus”) shower that can turn a small amount of water into a large volume of mist.
The main component of the device is a sealed cylindrical chamber with very small nozzles attached around it. When a passenger steps inside the chamber, an optical sensor measures their height and shape, simultaneously spraying a mixture of water and soap at high pressure through these nozzles to envelop the body.
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The research team at the University of Washington, USA, with the in-flight shower. (Photo: depts.washington.edu) |
The result is a very fine mist that is ionized as it exits the nozzles, ensuring that not a single drop is wasted. The shower then continues to spray a clean mist of water for rinsing, followed by a warm air drying process. All of this is done very gently.
T. An
