Launch of “Fly-by-Wireless” vision for Aerospace Vehicles

CANEUS together with NASA is announcing the start of a new project to reduce wiring in aerospace vehicle industry and reap the benefits, based on the lessons learned from recent NASA successes and new industry breakthroughs. 

International leaders within the air and spacecraft industry, including those from NASA, ESA, Airbus, Boeing, the FAA, Embraer, Lockheed Martin, NAVAIR, the Canadian Department of Defense, Honeywell, Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems, Sikorsky Aircraft, and many other organizations, will meet in Grapevine, TX, USA, from 27-28 March 2007, for a workshop hosted by the CANEUS Organization and NASA. Under the direction of George Studor of NASA-JSC, this workshop will launch of the Aircraft/Spacecraft Structural Health Monitoring Pilot Project, which was created during the CANEUS 2006 Conference in Toulouse, France. 

Wireless Technology Breakthroughs

Technology breakthroughs are being made worldwide that can reduce aerospace cabling.  The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) industry is perfecting the replacement of bar code labels. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensors are making their commercial debut in temperature and pressure applications. Low power, adaptive, and robust radio technologies and systems are being used for important wireless applications on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and in European Space Agency programs. Some aircraft now have FAA-approved wireless smoke detectors and cameras. 

“In the 1970’s, the Space Shuttle Program eliminated 7,000 lbs of wire as a part of its digital fly-by-wire approach for the Orbiter fleet,” says George Studor of NASA/JSC.  “Shuttle’s latest wireless flight successes are paving the way for the aerospace industry to re-think past approaches.”  

The workshop will establish an international forum for the identification and development of wireless applications and technologies for Aerospace, and advance potential teaming opportunities between participating industry representatives, thus leading toward the development and incubation of a variety of collaborations and pilot projects, says CANEUS founder & Chairman Milind Pimprikar.  Future events related to Structural Health Monitoring and wireless development will track the progress of the important breakthroughs and partnerships that were established during this event.  Also, because the workshop is being held conjunction with the 5th RFID World Conference and the 1st IEEE Conference on RFID, CANEUS/NASA will take advantage of these parallel events and host a panel that amalgamates IEEE and RFID participants in order to discuss issues related to advancing wireless technology.  Additional information: www.caneus.org/workshop