Aircraft Wireless Network Infrastructure with Dissimilar Control Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft systems lack redundant communication means to ensure safety and reliability in case of major failures, such as uncontained engine bursts, particularly for safety-related avionic systems and cabin systems.
Innovation Solution
A wireless network infrastructure with dissimilar redundant communication links is implemented, using radio units as nodes to connect aircraft devices, including safety-related systems, with additional control means such as wired networks and manual controls, ensuring operation even in failure scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a wireless communication network is implemented for aircraft devices, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but reliability is worsened due to lack of redundant control paths
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control paths into multiple independent communication channels (wireless network, wired network, direct wiring) that can operate independently. Each aircraft device is connected to the control system through multiple separate paths, so that if one path fails, other paths remain functional. This segmentation provides redundancy without requiring a completely complex unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of communication medium diversity by implementing multiple dissimilar communication technologies (wireless radio frequency, wired Ethernet, direct electrical wiring). By using fundamentally different physical layers and communication protocols, the system ensures that a failure in one medium does not necessarily affect the others, thereby improving reliability while managing overall complexity.
2Reliability
If redundant communication links are implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system and aircraft devices are designed with multi-functionality to communicate through multiple types of networks (wireless, wired, direct). Each component can operate on different communication protocols and physical media, allowing a single redundant infrastructure to serve multiple purposes and provide reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary components such as communication managers and protocol adapters that handle the complexity of multiple communication paths. These intermediaries manage the wireless, wired, and direct connections, providing a simplified interface to the aircraft devices while maintaining redundant communication paths in the background.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication is used instead of wired connections, then ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but robustness against catastrophic failures is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The communication infrastructure uses a composite approach by combining multiple dissimilar communication technologies (wireless radio frequency, wired Ethernet cables, direct electrical wiring) into a unified redundant system. Each medium has different failure modes and characteristics, so their combination creates a more robust overall system that can withstand catastrophic failures affecting any single medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by pre-establishing multiple independent communication paths before any failure occurs. Each aircraft device is configured with backup communication routes through different media (wireless, wired, direct), so that if a catastrophic failure affects one path, the other paths are already in place and can immediately take over without interruption.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides a wireless network infrastructure (1) for an aircraft (10), comprising a first communication unit (6) configured to receive and transmit data signals from and to a control system (3) located in a secured domain (100) of the aircraft (10), the first communication unit (6) further being configured as a first network node of a wireless communication network (5), a plurality of second communication units (7, 7a-7c) of corresponding aircraft devices (4, 4a-4c) located in an unsecured domain (200) of the aircraft (10), the second communication units (7, 7a-7c) being configured as second network nodes of the wireless communication network (5), wherein the aircraft devices (4, 4a-4c) are configured to be operated by control signals sent from the control system (3) to the aircraft devices (4, 4a-4c) and transmit control signals to the control system (3)over the wireless communication network (5), wherein each aircraft device (4, 4a-4c) having a communication unit (7, 7a-7c) further comprises additional control means (8, 8a-8d) dissimilar from the control signals sent over the wireless communication network (5) for operating the aircraft device (4, 4a-4c) independently. Further, the present invention provides an aircraft (10) comprising the wireless network infrastructure (1) as well as a method for wireless communication onboard an aircraft (10).