Aircraft Wiring Characterization, Tracking, and Testing System (AWCTTS)

"This SBIR will result in the development of an automated Aircraft Wiring Characterization, Tracking, and Testing System (AWCTTS). This smart, low-cost, lightweight, easy-to-operate portable testing system will be designed to track, test, and characterizefaults in aircraft wiring. The AWCTTS will consist of a collection of custom-fit connectors that snap into the end of a handheld testing unit. Customized connectors can retrofit the existing connectors, allowing the handheld testing unit to attach to eachconnector in an aircraft. The AWCTTS will be designed to allow a roaming human Maintenance Technician to communicate with the distributed network of connectors for noninvasive harvesting of the wire health status. The AWCTTS will be downloadable to a PC,which will use decision-making software to integrate input into an analysis of the overall health and integrity status of the complete aircraft wiring system. Advanced software and a fault database will be developed to allow a technician to characterizethe wiring systems of multiple aircraft platforms by weapon system, tail number, wire bundle, individual wire, and connector, all by part number. This innovation will avoid the removal for testing of 5,000 wires per year, as well as saving thousands ofmaintenance man-hours annually. Commercialization at Williams-Pyro, Inc. is generally a five-step process after technology development. The first step is to host a product demonstration at