US Patent 9745064 Aircraft overhead bin monitoring and alert system

A system for monitoring an overhead storage bin includes a proximity sensor, a load sensor, a latch mechanism sensor, and a controller operatively connected to the proximity sensor, the load sensor and the latch mechanism sensor. The controller is configured to retrieve proximity data from the proximity sensor indicative of a space status of an overhead storage bin, retrieve load data from the load sensor indicative of a stowage weight status of the bin, and retrieve a latch status from the latch mechanism indicative of a latch status of an access door of the bin. The controller is further configured to determine, based on the space status, the weight data, and the latch status, a probability indicative of whether an item stowed in the bin may fall from the bin, and output, based on the probability, an indication on an output device on an exterior surface of the bin.