Vehicle stowage bin assemblies having weight sensors

A method of operating a stowage bin assembly within an interior cabin of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting a weight of the stowage bin assembly using a weight sensor of the stowage bin assembly;
• communicatively coupling a stowage bin control unit with the weight sensor;
• monitoring, by the stowage bin control unit, one or more signals output by the weight sensor;
• and
• using the stowage bin control unit to automatically close the stowage bin assembly in response to a weight of the stowage bin assembly being within a predetermined range of a maximum weight threshold.

A vehicle comprising:

• an interior cabin;
• and
• a plurality of stowage bin assemblies within the interior cabin, wherein at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises:
• a weight sensor that is configured to detect the weight of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies;
• and
• a stowage bin control unit in communication with the weight sensor, wherein the stowage bin control unit is configured to monitor one or more signals output by the weight sensor, wherein the stowage bin control unit is configured to compare the one or more signals against one or more weight thresholds stored in a memory,
• wherein the stowage bin control unit is configured to automatically close the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies in response to a weight of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies being within a predetermined range of a maximum weight threshold, and wherein the stowage bin control unit is configured to operate a latch of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies into a locked position after the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is closed.