IoT to Increase Efficiency

Internet of Things (IoT) is the concept of connecting physical devices, objects of everyday use, sensors and human beings through the internet. It is a vibrant network through which different physical objects and people are connected with each other for collecting, sharing, analysing and acting upon the data generated in the environment around them. All these devices and sensors can communicate and interact with each other using the internet. The performance, inputs or outputs by these devices can be monitored remotely and their course of events can be altered accordingly. The internet could be the present day concept of the World Wide Web (WWW) or we could use a privately created, independent or local network on which certain specified devices, sensors, humans and electronic items can interact with each other as per the directions passed on this net, apart from providing a feedback in the closed loop of intranet users which has been created locally.

IoT is capable of touching all sectors and lives of humans in multiple ways. It can make life easier for the staff and users apart from reducing the cost of operations of even airlines. With the Kyoto Potocol having been signed and the International Civil Aviation Organisation voluntary resolution of reducing aviation emissions, IoT is in a position to help reduce carbon emissions from aircraft. It will also make flying less dependent on humans for handling baggage or cargo, apart from reducing the all-up weight of an aircraft that will reduce fuel burn. This aspect is crucial because India is poised to see huge growth in the aviation sector in the next two decades where Indians with buying power, are going to save time and energy while commuting between different places for business or leisure.

The versatility of IoT lies in its ability to connect any electronic device. It can be anything ranging from a chip which is controlling some object, to a full-fledged computer and even be connected between devices or sensors onboard the aircraft. IoT in the field of aviation will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the aviation components thereby reducing the cost of operations and requirements for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO). It will also improve the overall experience of the consumers as well as staff in terms of simplicity of operations and permeate all around the thrill of using IoT services because now command or information access is placed at the disposal of the passengers.

EFFICIENCY IN AVIATION

The IoT-based interaction of the passenger begins with the airlines when the ticket is booked. A small application can be downloaded that reminds the passenger of the forthcoming journey on the smartphone. Google has already implemented such a system. The moment the passenger reaches the airport gates, police representatives get a signal about the ticket booking. The sensors and cameras installed capture the first cache of the basic information about the passengers’ luggage at airport entry. This information is refined at the check-in counter when the bags are weighed. The baggage data with respect to the dimensions, placement direction, weight, fragility and destinations will be recorded through IoT-based sensors.

This IoT data is automatically sent to the luggage marshaling area or the apron where luggage lots are made for loading using computer-aided designs conforming to the belly space of the aircraft where the luggage will be loaded. The luggage is stacked inside the aircraft belly on the basis of load balancing, fragility, accessibility at any intermediate airport and the ability to take on more luggage at that halt. This data is then passed on electronically to the next destination when the flight departs.

The usage of IoT gives great control to the users.

The cargo handlers now know beforehand the exact location and sequence of offloading the baggage. They too would have pre-stacked their luggage based upon the same IoT-based software which they would load for the next leg of the journey. Once the luggage is offloaded, the same IoT-based baggage tracking system ensures that the baggage of one passenger group comes out as one cluster. This avoids the usual, but unnecessary wait by the passenger for ‘that last piece of luggage,’ leading to crowding at the airport with an exasperated expression.

IoT can be deployed on an aircraft to remotely monitor the performance characteristics of critical items such as fuel level monitoring, wear and tear of the brake pads and engine performance. This information can then be transmitted as a burst or pulse to the next destination where it will be possible to carry out a faster MRO due to the available prognostics. Accordingly, the placement of the necessary staff and spares apron will reduces the waiting time at the airport for carrying out the necessary maintenance and refueling services. This will reduce the apron usage expenses being paid by the airline. Once the repair assistance requirement is made available beforehand at the terminal, appropriate manpower and resources can be mustered. This will do away with the expense of a standing work force of personnel to be present at the airport. Thus, technical manpower can be hired on an as-required basis to reduce costs. Fuel costs too vary between places. So, once the exact fuel status is available, the refueling decisions can be taken to optimise fuel acquisition and while also considering the carrying cost of fuel in the wings for the next flight.

In order to reduce the all-up weight of an aircraft, certain wiring spanning the aircraft can be done away with. A considerable quantity of wiring inside the aircraft can be replaced with use of IoT that will enable internet-based communication on a node-to-node or a sensor-to-monitor entity concept, using internet protocols within the aeroplane itself. This reduces the cost of wiring and ensures easy fault detection, thus making the system modular. More importantly, it will reduce loss of current which is required to be transmitted between these wires and sensors to the nodes or to the monitors which indicate the aircraft performance.

This also reduces the all-up weight and the associated fuel burn. The MRO costs related to these wires especially in case of rodent menace, has been sited inside the aircraft as rodents are known to have cut wires inside aircraft which can jeopardise flight safety.

THRILLING EXPERIENCE

The usage of IoT gives great control to the users. They have a second to second access to the information and control over the IoT devices, sensors, actuators and their performance. Since, automation is the new buzzword, everything is in the process of being automated. This eliminates the need of humans which are expensive and are subject to human emotions or biases. As a result, with the introduction of new automated technology which is connectable through IoT, passengers can be assured of a better performance and satisfaction than what was possible with the presence of a human interface.

It is a known fact that aviation customers are an esteemed and quality conscious class of passengers. Once they see modern technology being used through the IoT, it brings them great happiness. They feel that their money is being utilised in the best possible way and that their worth is being recognised by the introduction of latest technology. Since aviation is an expensive business, the minor increase in capital costs due to the introduction of IoT will not be resented by the passengers because they would see value in improvement of the services offered to them.

Since the 1970s, the prime focus of industries to sustain themselves has been to improve user experience. IoT has certain wowfactors attached to it which when given the perfect creativity, would surpass all means of comfort and provide the users with a sense of happiness and great comfort. Maintaining customer satisfaction is bound to improve sales and increases revenue.