In 2012, we live in a world of connectivity. Through the internet we have access to an enormous and ever growing amount of information. It allows us to connect with our friends, and family, we take it for granted. Another development which is ever becoming more prominent is the use of wireless connectivity, with our laptops, smart phones and tablet computers all making use of this technology. However, something relatively new but is already taken for granted is the idea of accessing the internet wirelessly while flying. People want to be connected wherever they are, even if this means at 35,000 feet.
As users of Wifi and mobile communication technologies, we all know the importance of signal strength. Many commercial airlines already offer a continuous Wifi connection throughout their flights, but the coverage can be 'spotty' throughout the aircraft due its internal complex electromagnetic environment.
Boeing's test engineers have been at work developing a new process for signal quality, which was initially tested in the lab using measurement technology already in use by the metrology labs. By adapting this technique for use in a airplane, the engineers could more efficiently measure signal strength and the propagation of the signal radiowaves.
Wireless signals can deviate randomly when people move around, the new test process allowed Boeing engineers to understand the distribution of wireless hot and cold spots:
"Rather than taking random samples from an airplane, the new way that we developed to test for safety and usability was to essentially send out a signal and measure it". "With statistical analysis, we can then very accurately describe the strongest and weakest signal areas."
Boeing spokesman Adam Tischler - technewsworld.com
Boeing first developed this technology in order to meet regulatory safety standards so that Wifi signals did not interfere with an aircraft's navigation and communication systems.
The new systems in place in Boeing aircraft promise to provide an improved wireless connection for passengers.
Meanwhile other network engineers are taking note of Boeing's testing method, and ways it could help to improve designs of networks in other situations where people could affect wireless signals.
Sources:
boeing.com
wired.co.uk
technewsworld.com
Images from macgasm.net and knowhow.com
That's where the potatoes come in, in order to test wireless signals in an environment as close to a normal aircraft cabin, the test engineers took a decommissioned DC-10 and placed 20,000lbs of potatoes into the seats as substitutes for humans. This was so that humans didn't have to sit very still for weeks of testing.
"A substitute for humans was sought that would mimic the way they can effect wireless signals in the airplane cabin," said Kirchoff. "Potatoes function as a stand-in for humans and mimic the effects they have on the propagation of wireless signals in the airplane cabin. Potatoes have almost the same dielectric constant as humans -- which means the electromagnetic waves of a WiFi signal interact with potatoes in nearly the same way as they interact with humans."
Cabin systems and development engineer with Boeing Ken Kirchoff - technewsworld.com
 |
| The project was named SPUDS (Synthetic Personnel Using Dielectric Substitution) |
However unusual as it may sound, the engineers realised that using potatoes instead of humans would reduce testing time from several weeks to 10 hours.
Boeing first developed this technology in order to meet regulatory safety standards so that Wifi signals did not interfere with an aircraft's navigation and communication systems.
The new systems in place in Boeing aircraft promise to provide an improved wireless connection for passengers.
Meanwhile other network engineers are taking note of Boeing's testing method, and ways it could help to improve designs of networks in other situations where people could affect wireless signals.
Sources:
boeing.com
wired.co.uk
technewsworld.com
Images from macgasm.net and knowhow.com
