RFID TEST PROGRAM COULD LEAD TO IN FLIGHT MONITORING OF PERISHABLE CARGO
- Latest News
- Monday, 24 July 2006
The move is to use RFID to keep track of a multitude of parts in the aircraft to help carriers get a better handle on their lifespan and manage parts inventories to reduce down time.
“The RFID technology is designed to help airlines reduce ownership costs by managing repairs and tracking assets,” said Boeing’s Kenneth Porad. “On-aircraft use of active RFID technology is setting the stage for wireless sensor networks in the future.
“We are making history,” said Porad, Boeing’s program manager of the automated-identification program. “If we can use these tags on flights, that sets the stage to begin deploying wireless sensor networks, in which things like temperature sensors could be attached to the tags and used to monitor perishable goods in transit.”
Boeing and FedEx have begun a proof-of-concept test to seek the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States to place active battery-powered RFID tags on aircraft parts. The approval is important because, without it, a carrier would be liable if equipment on an aircraft did not function properly due to interference from the active tags.
The RFID tags – created by Identec Solutions – contain a microchip and transmitter that operate at 915 MHz (an internationally recognised standard frequency).
The read-range capability of the tags is 100 metres compared with the three metre read-range of passive tags. They also hold more data and can detect unwanted environmental and electro-magnetic conditions.
If it works as planned, the system will allow ground crews to check the remaining life span of parts without the time-consuming process of opening access panels and making visual inspections. It will also simplify record-keeping workloads.
The 120-day evaluation will involve a total of 50 tags in various areas of the FedEx MD-10F, including the cargo compartment, flight deck, avionics compartment and wheel wells. The tags will be monitored by FedEx mechanics when the aircraft makes scheduled stops in Memphis
According to Boeing and FedEx, the MD-10F is the first non-military cargo aircraft on record to carry transmitting UHF RFID tags.
Following the test (lasting until September 15), Boeing will work with the FAA to certify that active RFID devices do not adversely affect the operation of any aircraft systems or interfere with continued safety of flight.
