1 Are Wireless Sensors Feasible for Aircraft?

Abstract: Wireless communications is a preferred way of data transmission in many aerospace applications. Replacing some aircraft sensor wiring with wireless communications is a highly desirable but challenging transformation. The related sensors are referred to as aerospace wireless sensors (AWSs). This replacement can lower the weight of aircraft wiring, improve the overall safety of aircraft, simplify the design of aircraft structures, and lower the sensor installation and maintenance cost. The major concern for using AWSs is the potential negative effects on overall reliability and safety of aircraft. In this paper, the feasibility of using AWSs is discussed. In particular, the appropriate wireless communication schemes are studied in terms of immunity to jamming signals, interference to other on-board wireless systems, simultaneous data transmission from multiple AWSs, and low detectability to unintended parties. We conclude that the code-division multiple-access (CDMA) is a suitable scheme for thi