Can We Replace Physical Wiring with Free-Space Optical Transmission Systems?

Aircraft manufacturers are always looking for ways to reduce weight and improve reliability. A significant factor in both the weight of an aircraft and its reliability is the use of long wires and physical electrical connectors. Over the past few decades, research and development of light-based data transmission mechanisms have yielded successful operation in a variety of environments. Light-based communication is not subject to interference from high-intensity radio frequency signals and has been demonstrated to achieve high bandwidths at short ranges. To reduce weight and improve system robustness and reliability, this research investigates replacing the wires providing data to cockpit instruments with a novel free-space optical communication system. This research constructs a simple prototype by connecting the readings from a flight simulator to a standard six-pack of instruments via light-based communication. Additionally, the communication system is tested outdoors to determine its resilience to sunlight interference. Even with very basic hardware, the system operated at a baud rate of 4800 bps over four meters in direct sunlight. The results of this research help substantiate the applicability of free-space optical communication technologies to aviation.