20 AEROSPACEMANUFACTURING | NOvEMbER 2009
Wireless
MAkES SENSE
Airframe manufacturers are constantly striving to remove more weight whilst
simultaneously reducing the amount of complex wiring harnesses and cables
running throughout the aircraft. Mike Richardson reports.
I
n an effort to reduce the huge and de-risk wireless data transmission transmission technology on aircraft.
amounts of copper wiring in modern technology for key testing and structural “We recognise that many issues need
aircraft, wireless data transmission health monitoring applications in aero addressing in terms of interference,
using sensors to monitor engines and engines and both fixed and rotary wing data security, data transmission range,
other aircraft systems is increasingly aircraft. The aim is to find solutions to and power supply,” he begins. “We’re
being viewed as a means of improving the challenges which currently prevent collaborating with companies to test,
the way aircraft instrumentation and deployment on aircraft, and through research and de-risk these technologies
test systems collect data. Using wireless a phased testing and demonstration for the benefit of everyone in the UK’s
instead of fixed wiring solutions programme will prove the performance aerospace industry. It’s a new technology,
offers the potential to measure more of the new wireless systems developed. so we’re working at a pre-competitive
parameters, save cost and weight and lead The WiTNESSS consortium comprises level with our partners; it’s in everyone’s
to lighter, more efficient future aircraft lead partner TRW Conekt, plus QinetiQ, interest to get this stuff working.”
designs with a quicker time to market. QM Systems, Rolls-Royce, Airbus UK, WiTNESSS doesn’t just focus on
Led by technology and engineering BAE Systems, System Level Integration, one particular application; instead it
consultancy TRW Conekt, a consortium GE Aviation, Bombardier Aerospace consists of a generic framework that can
of key players from the UK aerospace Belfast, Ultra Electronics BCF and be used for many aircraft applications.
industry is helping to develop wireless AgustaWestland. The collaboration The project centres mainly on structural
data gathering and transmission between aircraft OEMs developers and health and performance monitoring data
technology for aircraft applications. With component/system suppliers brings applications for systems and subsystems.
a total budget of £3.4million, the three together their key skills to maximise the “It’s important to make the point that
year project was launched earlier this year effectiveness of the project. at this stage, the consortium isn’t looking
with an investment of £1.6million from TRW Conekt’s Roger Hazelden to use this technology for anything that is
the Technology Strategy Board (TSB). is technical lead for WiTNESSS and safety critical,” clarifies Hazelden. “We’re
Known as WiTNESSS (WIreless chaired the strategic development of the moving one step at a time to introduce
Technologies for Novel Enhancement of project with the aim of bringing together this technology because aerospace
Systems and Structures Serviceability), key players from the UK aerospace products are always based on a pedigree
this collaborative project will research industry interested in exploiting wireless of what has gone before, and then making
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