High Speed Digital Video on Legacy Aircraft Wiring

ABSTRACT: 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.