Real Time Wireless Network for Avionics Applications

The US Navy in this Topic identified the need to develop and demonstrate innovative technologies that leverage existing and emerging commercial real-time wireless circuitry by upconversion of frequency to 60 GHz (V-band) for short range, high security applications. This topic was originated by the NavAir F/A-18 Program Office to research the possibility of using a millimeter wave wireless local area network within the aircraft to replace all or most of the hard cabling for avionics equipment. This concept can be called “fly by wireless”. The potential benefit of this concept is the removal of a significant percentage of the weight of the aircraft resulting from the existing avionics hard cabling. Proposed is a WNAA network operating at 60 GHz that is (1) compact size to fit in compartment with little unused space, (2) low-cost, utilizing existing or emerging Commercial of the Shelf (COTS) components, (3) highly reliable and capable of wide bandwidth and low latency, (4) operates in high multipath environment, and (5) operates with low power drain. Phase I results clearly indicate that the concept of V-Band Wireless Network for Avionics Applications is both feasible and highly advantageous.