ASAR
ASAR
Giving passengers more control over their in-flight meals.
Giving passengers more control over their in-flight meals.
Timeline
Timeline
Spring 2026 · 10 weeks
Spring 2026 · 10 weeks
Role
Role
UX Design
UX Design
Location
Location
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech
Skills
Skills
User research, Concept sketching, Prototyping & testing, Rendering
User research, Concept sketching, Prototyping & testing, Rendering
What is ASAR?
What is ASAR?
ASAR stands for Automated Service and Retrieval. It is a system built into airplane cabins that delivers and collects in-flight meals at each seat.
ASAR stands for Automated Service and Retrieval. It is a system built into airplane cabins that delivers and collects in-flight meals at each seat.
The question behind the project
The question behind the project
ASAR project requirement
ASAR project requirement
For this 10-week project at Georgia Tech, I was asked to imagine what the future of in-flight dining could look like.
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Context
Context
Context
The project asked what in-flight dining could become.
The project asked what in-flight dining could become.
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Why it matters
Why it matters
Why it matters
Meal service is one of the few moments everyone on a flight shares, and one of the most cramped.
Meal service is one of the few moments everyone on a flight shares, and one of the most cramped.
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Scope
Scope
Scope
A 10-week project in Spring 2026.
A 10-week project in Spring 2026.
The problem
The problem
The main problem was a lack of control. Passengers reached over each other to pass trays, did not know when their meal was coming and felt crowded once it arrived.
How might we give passengers control over when and how they eat on a flight?
How might we give passengers control over when and how they eat on a flight?
How might we give passengers control over when and how they eat on a flight?
Users and stakeholders
Users and stakeholders
We spoke with flight attendants, onboard culinary leadership and passengers to understand what each group needed.
We spoke with flight attendants, onboard culinary leadership and passengers to understand what each group needed.
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Flight attendants
Flight attendants
Flight attendants
Quality of service and passenger safety.
Quality of service and passenger safety.
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Culinary leadership
Culinary leadership
Culinary leadership
Safety, brand consistency and profitability.
Safety, brand consistency and profitability.
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Passengers
Passengers
Passengers
Efficiency, comfort, and service and food quality.
Efficiency, comfort, and service and food quality.
Design process
Design process
The research pointed to three areas to give back to the passenger. I then sketched concepts, from trays anchored to the table to an overhead rail and meal pods in the seat.
The research pointed to three areas to give back to the passenger. I then sketched concepts, from trays anchored to the table to an overhead rail and meal pods in the seat.
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Service efficiency
Service efficiency
Service efficiency
Faster, quieter service for the crew.
Faster, quieter service for the crew.
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Self-paced meals
Self-paced meals
Self-paced meals
Passengers eat when they are ready.
Passengers eat when they are ready.
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Space autonomy
Space autonomy
Space autonomy
Passengers decide when the tray is in front of them.
Passengers decide when the tray is in front of them.
Features
Features
Meals arrive on a belt built into the seat back. Passengers take the tray when they are ready and return it the same way.
Meals arrive on a belt built into the seat back. Passengers take the tray when they are ready and return it the same way.
ASAR in the cabin
ASAR in the cabin
The full system, built into the seat backs.
The full system, built into the seat backs.
Belt delivery
Belt delivery
Many people wanted to rest without being disturbed, and in testing they wanted to stay unbothered.
Many people wanted to rest without being disturbed, and in testing they wanted to stay unbothered.
Magnetic attachments
Magnetic attachments
The tray attaches to the seat back, which fixed the problem with space autonomy.
The tray attaches to the seat back, which fixed the problem with space autonomy.
Food tray
Food tray
Compartments open like an unboxing. The curve shows which way to open it, and people opened it the way they open a tray table.
Compartments open like an unboxing. The curve shows which way to open it, and people opened it the way they open a tray table.
Handle signifiers
Handle signifiers
Highlights on the handle show where to grab.
Highlights on the handle show where to grab.
Storyboard
Storyboard
The passenger journey, from ordering on the seatback screen to returning the tray.
The passenger journey, from ordering on the seatback screen to returning the tray.
Final renders
Final renders
