Challenges for developing low-cost avionics/aerospace-grade optoelectronic modules

The commercial and military avionics/aerospace environment presents formidable challenges for developing and manufacturing low-cost avionics/aerospace-grade optoelectronic modules. Because manufacturing volume is relatively low, the economies of scale advantage enjoyed by commercial datacom optoelectronic module producers has yet to be realized. Currently the harsh avionics/aerospace environment obligates the hybrid designer to place highest priority on achieving very high performance and reliability, thus imposing stringent constraints for implementing potentially low-cost optoelectronic module designs in today's military/aerospace hybrid manufacturing plant. Boeing's collaborative R&D programs with commercial sector optoelectronics producers provides a solution for reducing optoelectronic module design and manufacturing production costs for future avionics/aerospace optoelectronic module applications.