Wireless solutions for aircraft condition based maintenance systems

Wireless sensors can provide new opportunities to foster the push to develop prognostics for both new and legacy aircraft systems. These sensor modules add significant value by being easy to install and/or retrofit. By including all the data necessary to make direct maintenance decisions unilaterally within the sensor module itself rather than processing the data through other systems, these wireless sensors can operate independently and reduce maintenance manpower substantially compared to traditional time-based maintenance scenarios. This paper explains typical system topologies, current technologies, and concerns associated with wireless sensing systems.