A characterization of the broadband MIMO PLC channel in aircraft

The use of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) techniques for Power Line Communications (PLC) has been proven for the consumer market. As of 2011, MIMO is part of two PLC standards and products are already available for end users. PLC for avionics on the other hand is a niche technology. Fulfilling the high demands for safety-critical components makes the engineering of a PLC solution a challenging task. Many aircraft systems are powered by a three-phase alternating current system and already provide the necessary wiring for adopting MIMO techniques. Our goal is to develop next generation PLC systems for aircraft with MIMO technology.