Avionics News July 2016 - 21

wireless transfer capabilities integral to the IFD440 and its larger
brother, the IFD540.
"From the outset of our new panel-mounted avionics stack development, we were keenly aware of wireless connectivity in the
cockpit as an emerging technology," said Patrick Herguth, Avidyne's chief operating officer back in 2014. "We decided early
on to integrate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transceivers and antenna into
the base configuration of the IFD540 and IFD440, eliminating
the added complexity of extra boxes, while reducing installation
costs."
Dan Schwinn, Avidyne president and chief executive officer,
explained that providing connections via both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
gives pilots and passengers maximum breadth of connectivity.
"With throughput rates of up to 3 Mbps, Bluetooth provides
terrific point-to-point connectivity for specific devices and Appbased tasks, while our Wi-Fi provides a higher-bandwidth connection of up to 65 Mbps for more robust purposes including laptops
and browser-based connectivity," Schwinn said.
Recognizing that not everyone wants to tote a tablet computer in
the cockpit, Avidyne went another step into wireless by developing
its MK10 Mini Keyboard. This diminutive QWERTY keyboard
adds another avenue for the pilot to enter flight plans and control
both the IFD540 and IFD440 via their integral Bluetooth gateway.
At a mere 4.5 inches by 2.25 inches - and only 0.375 inches
thick - the MK10 is a customized Bluetooth device created specifically to work with the two all-in-one boxes. With the MK10, pilots
can enter flight plans and waypoints, wirelessly, or execute "Direct
TO" instructions to the WAAS GPS navigator, change pages and
tabs, zoom the map range in and out, as well as other functions the
company developed. The IFDs must be running Release 10.1 or
later software to pair up with the MK10.
Audio panels and Bluetooth: music to the ears?
GPS navigators and integrated avionics packages aren't the
only pieces of panel gear to employ wireless touches for their
use. The humble audio-control panel is another item increasingly equipped with Bluetooth capabilities in support of several
functions.
Wireless capabilities on audio-control panels from Jupiter
Avionics Corp., PS Engineering and Garmin allow everything
from music connections to smartphone conversations streamed
from passengers' tablets, MP3 or MP4 players, and smartphones.
And these are generally stereo connections for the music
playing. Some of the panels allow multiple Bluetooth connections, so a pilot may make a call to clearance delivery using the
audio-control panel connection to the headset via the cellphone
- while passengers discretely listen to their choice of tunes
playing from their personal devices. The variations continue to
multiply as options similarly expand.

Cutting cords: Wireless headsets
help declutter cockpits
Ask any pilot and chances are they'll concur - if there's one
thing cockpits can stand to lose it's the lengthy cords that connect
their headsets to the audio panel via panel-mounted jacks.
The options are varied enough that pilots who wish to hold
on to their current wired headsets can adapt - or they can opt for
new models that integrate the Bluetooth gateway into the headset
for a truly wireless headset.
Among these different options, the wiJac from Jupiter Avionics enables existing headsets to wirelessly connect to a dongle
plugged into the panel jacks and an adapter plugged into the
headset wires.
Purpose-designed Bluetooth headsets have emerged from
multiple vendors, and those still need the adapter necessary to
connect the audio panel via existing headset jacks. Of course,
direct-panel connections also are an option in aircraft with audiocontrol panels with Bluetooth capabilities.
Stereo options are available, and some can also connect with
music players without an audio-control panel that supports music. The options continue to expand.
Among the areas of expansion are avionics for experimental
and light-sport aircraft, which enjoy a broader set of options for
incorporating such advances under the ASTM consensus standards that apply.
Knowing no limits
Insiders at avionics companies and installation shops largely
concur that the wireless-cockpit revolution is well along and
approaching a plateau - but not completely. In addition to the
inroads made in certificated-aircraft cockpits, the benefits and
functions are appearing in experimental avionics packages, as
well. And there's more to come.
Wireless technology may soon make it possible to install an
avionics suite with no wires connecting navigators to primary
flight displays, for attitude and air-data sensors to communicate
wirelessly with autopilots and multifunction displays, much as
air-transport aircraft are beginning to use wireless sensors and
actuators in place of wire-connected systems - much like fly-bywire displaced hydraulics, which displaced mechanical connections to flight and engine controls.
Expect the challenges to arise in frequency saturation, bandwidth limitations and the effort to assure isolation between dedicated connections to prevent unwanted interference between disparate channels and functions.
But given the progress of the past five years, it's apparent the
wireless-systems revolution is well along in aircraft cockpits and
systems - and prepared to spread wherever the use of wireless
connections brings benefit to the aircraft and its operators and
passengers. q

avionics news

july

2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News July 2016