SBIR-STTR Award

5-D has developed an approach to add a modern high speed network to legacy aircraft using only existing aircraft wiring. With this design implementation, aircraft power lines, as well as control and/or signal wiring will become dual purpose (original use along with high bandwidth data) resulting in a cost-effective upgrade applicable to thousands of aircraft worldwide. 5-D will adapt HomePlug® AV (Audio/Video) technology, the leading standard for broadband-over-power line (BOPL) networking worldwide, to the aircraft environment to enable high bandwidth network communication via existing aircraft wiring. HomePlug AV devices are designed to use standard home Alternating Current (AC) power wiring as a high speed data network. Our approach will modify these devices for the aircraft application and expand the capability to include aircraft power wiring, and aircraft signal wiring. Leveraging this reliable technology, we can realize the design goal of implementing a high speed (network) interface for aircraft systems over (legacy) installed wiring while significantly reducing development risk as well as benefiting from future improvements to the base commercial technology

Benefit:
This program will develop a product and service to upgrade any existing aircraft with a new high-speed network suitable for video transport and other high bandwidth applications. Any aircraft that might need a video system or a boost in on-board network performance would be a candidate for this product and service. JHMCS is just one of many systems that levy high bandwidth requirements that can be met in a low cost and low impact way with our proposed offering. Our initial commercialization plan consists of a description of the planned offering, identification and sizing of our potential markets, and rough projections of when and how much we plan to sell into those markets. This technology can gain a real foothold in the aviation marketplace as a relatively low-cost/low-impact, highly configurable, and reliable upgrade to existing aircraft. 5-D plans to make this offering an easy upgrade decision for a significant percentage of aircraft systems worldwide. In addition, the technology is applicable to many other types of platforms that we have not yet assessed as markets including: ground vehicles including automobiles and tanks, naval applications, and industrial communications.

Keywords:
Networking, Broadband, Powerline, Aircraft, Bandwidth, Wiring, Video, Broadband Via Powerline, Legacy Aircraft

5-D has developed an approach, leveraging modified commercial technology, to add a modern high speed network to legacy aircraft using only existing aircraft wiring. With this design implementation, existing aircraft wiring will become dual purpose (original use along with high bandwidth data), resulting in a cost-effective upgrade applicable to thousands of aircraft worldwide. In the Phase I program, 5-D proved the concept for adapting HomePlug™ AV (Audio/Video) technology, the leading standard for broadband-over-power line (BOPL) networking worldwide, to the aircraft environment to enable high bandwidth network communication via existing aircraft wiring. In Phase II, 5-D will develop prototype units and demonstrate operation of these units in an actual aircraft, as well as develop a roadmap to commercialization for the new capability. Our commercialization plan is to immediately (following Phase II) apply the new technology as a temporary installation to support military aircraft system testing (including flight data systems, weapon systems, and payloads) and then progress the application to permanent operational aircraft applications. The most significant benefit of our technology is that it enables high bandwidth data to be passed through an aircraft without significant modification efforts normally associated with removing panels and installing and routing wiring.

Benefit:
This program will develop a product and service to easily add a high-speed network, suitable for video transport and other high bandwidth applications, using only existing wiring in the targeted platform. Installing additional wiring in legacy aircraft is very costly and time consuming, so this technology could significantly reduce the effort required to implement desirable upgrades. This technology allows JHMCS and other modern upgrades to be easily implemented in legacy aircraft, thus extending their useful life. This technology has the potential to gain a real foothold in the aviation marketplace as a low-cost, low-impact, and reliable upgrade to existing aircraft. 5-D plans to make this offering an easy upgrade decision for a significant percentage of aircraft systems worldwide. In addition, the technology is applicable to many other types of platforms that we have not yet assessed as markets including: military and civil ground vehicles like large tanks and automobiles, naval applications, and industrial communications.

Keywords:
Networking, Broadband, Powerline, Aircraft, Bandwidth, Wiring, Video, Legacy