Gateway Integrates Wireless Sensors with Existing Aircraft Systems at "the Speed of Software"

About this technology

Overview

Innovators at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center have found a way to incorporate wireless sensor technology in aerospace vehicles without adding the complexity and tonnage normally associated with physically modifying existing avionics. The solution: A single universal wireless access point or "gateway" that can communicate between existing onboard systems and any subscribed wireless device. This gateway can be easily reprogrammed to communicate with any wireless device, allowing engineers to add new sensing technology "at the speed of software." Furthermore, this gateway approach means that once a wireless sensor has been tested on a research vehicle or platform, it can be immediately integrated into other vehicles outfitted with the gateway. The gateway's architecture also holds promise for other industries seeking ways to capitalize on the advantages of wireless sensors.