Wireless Sensors for Aircraft Health Monitoring
 
What is Sahara 2?
 
Sahara 2 is an innovative and challenging project, launched in France and supported by Astech, involving several French Ministries, 12 partners (amongst which: Astrium, SAFRAN, EADS, Eurocopter, the French National Center for Space Studies,… ), several French Universities and Research Laboratories along with 3 SME: BeanAir, Globalsys and Reflex CE.
 
Which is the aim of Sahara 2 Project?
 
The goal of this project is to create Wireless Sensor Networks applied to aeronautics and space field, improving the possibility of monitoring aircrafts, helicopters and space vehicles. In fact, for aerospace applications, Wireless Technologies have a huge potential interest.
 
In particular, what are the opportunities?
 
Nowadays, in an airplane, helicopter or a pitcher, thousands of sensors for most non-critical are used to measure various parameters (temperature, pressure, positions and more) and the results are then routed through the wires and then to the on board computers that process them.
 
Therefore, the interconnections of multiple sensors results in a great amount of cables (normally, hundreds of kilometers of cables are used), generating high complexity (both in design and production), high weight and high costs.
 
A critical point is the frequent impossibility of implementing useful sensors in some locations, because they wouldn’t be accessible to physical wiring (for example, it is nowadays impossible to use sensors monitoring the engine).
 
Finally, when it comes to upgrading older aircraft, it is almost impossible to lay wiring for new sensors that are not proposed in the original draft.
 
What are the advantages in using Wireless Sensors Networks?
 
The implementation of Wireless Sensors Networks will solve all the problems listed before: complexity and costs are decreased; it allows access to useful locations and data, improves the reliability of the information received, with positive aftermaths in matter of security.
 
On an Airbus A380 for example, which has 500 miles of cable weighing over 3 tons, the use of Wireless Sensors would save hundreds of pounds, while reducing the complexity of manufacturing and associated hazards. In fact, wiring problems are responsible for significant delays in data delivery.
 
SAHARA 2 partners propose to select from the Wireless Network standards existing ones that are closest to the aerospace needs, adapt to the constraints and needs and to achieve in three years a network architecture and to technological building blocks TRL 5. At the end of the project, these technologies will be ready for use at and for industrialization; certification and qualification will be guaranteed as well.
 
Ultimately, this will make possible the replacement of sensors in hundreds of aircraft with wireless versions.
  

ASTech Paris Region

www.pole-astech.org

 

ASTech Paris Region has a mission to maintain the Paris Region's position as a European leader in the Space Transport, BusinessAviation and Propulsion/Facilities sectors industry. The cluster brings together more than 100 partners, striking a balance between major groups, SMEs and training and research organizations.
 
 

 

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