Wireless Avionics Intracommunications: A Survey of Benefits, Challenges, and Solutions

In the aeronautics industry, wireless avionics intracommunications (WAICs) have a tremendous potential to improve efficiency and flexibility while reducing weight, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs over traditional wired avionics systems. This survey starts with an overview of the major benefits and opportunities in the deployment of wireless technologies for critical applications in an aircraft. The current state of the art is presented in terms of system classifications based on data rate demands and transceiver installation locations. We then discuss major technical challenges in the design and realization of the envisioned aircraft applications. Although WAIC has aspects and requirements similar to mission-critical applications of industrial automation, it also has specific issues, such as wireless channels, complex structures, operations, and safety of the aircraft that make this area of research self-standing and challenging. Existing wireless techniques are discussed to investigate the applicability of the current solutions for the critical operations of an aircraft. Specifically, IEEE 802.15.4-based and Bluetooth-based solutions are discussed for low data rate applications, whereas IEEE 802.11-based and UWB-based solutions are considered for high data rate applications. We conclude the survey by highlighting major research directions in this emerging area.