Today, wired sensors are used for monitoring the condition of aircraft engines, structures, gear boxes, and so on. Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), i.e. smart sensors with radio interfaces, promise unprecedented operational benefits, such as reduced airplane sensor wiring costs and weight, as cabling is limited to specific scenarios and the flexibility to be deployed on-board aircraft without requiring a redesign of the data wiring layout. Such benefits are also important arguments for programs such as Green Regional Aircraft which aims at developing and installing sensors to continuously control accidental damage, environment effects, and consequently in-service structural degradation, targeting a 9% reduction of the empty weight of the aircraft.

To this end, AirWISE was developed in response to the requirements described in the Clean Sky call for proposals referenced under JTI-CS-2009-GRA-01-019 and named “Miniaturized Sensors”. AirWISE is focused on developing a generic hardware platform for airborne WSN nodes leveraging an existing low-power 2.4 GHz CSEM wireless module known as ZorgWave. The technical strategy was to evaluate, re-design and re-qualify the existing module to adapt it to the limitations and constraints imposed by operation in airborne environments in accordance with FAA regulations.

The design and development of the WSN hardware was performed by CSEM in accordance with the requirements described in the call for proposals. In order to fulfil these requirements, in particular those related to the aeronautics environment and regulations, CSEM collaborated with RUAG Aerospace who worked on this project as aeronautics advisors. RUAG Aerospace also advised on the quality assurance of the project CSEM brought to AirWISE with its long track record in WSN developments (resulting, for example, in the WiseNET Technology Platform) covering all building blocks of the radio system (IC design, full network stack design, antenna).