IoT makes a mark in the aviation sector

IoT makes a mark in the aviation sector

Internet of things(IoT) is making a significant mark in the aviation sector. This boom is being called the next revolution; that puts things in perspective. Research from Juniper research shows that worldwide, there will be 38.5 billion connected objects by the year 2020. This increase dovetails beautifully with the pre-eminent presence of Big Data in the aviation sector. A single modern aircraft has many sensors and can generate several gigabytes of data. There are a number of IoT start-ups working in the area of commercial aviation. These companies are employing their skills in order to help OEMs, MROs and airlines gain the advantages of harnessing this data towards a meaningful end.

Beating out a different tune

Predikto is a data analytics company that has become a specialist in the aviation domain. Mario Montag, the company’s CEO opines that there are a lot of statements about IoT which are in the realm of hype but also sees a lot of genuine opportunities to use it to derive a competitive advantage. The primary area of focus according to him is ensuring that the data being collected from the aircraft is used to derive tangible value in terms of revenue and profitability. He feels that start-ups like his have an advantage in that they represent lower risk for customers to take on, particularly if they have already tried the larger players.

Similarly, there is another company called C3 IoT which is offering IoT applications such as sensor network monitoring, supply chain management and predictive maintenance. It has completed projects with OEMs and airframe manufacturers in areas including predictive maintenance and anticipation of supply chain delay for units which are line replaceable and aircraft systems.

Increased Adoption By OEMs and Airframers

According to Ed Abbo, President of the company, adoption of IoT is being spearheaded by OEMs and airframers who have understood the fact that this type of technology can enable them improve overall operational efficiency in addition to helping them offer product service agreements that are more competitive.

Abbo also says that the dominance of newer lines of aircraft such as the 787, the Airbus A350 and the C series from Bombardier will heavily influence the way companies approach IoT applications and data. According to him, as fleets adopt advanced and newer lines of aircraft, these planes are going to produce volumes of data several times more than what is being produced now. This will open up a need for advanced machine learning and analytics which will lie at the core of performance analysis and systems characterization.

He also opines that such technologies would be essential for anomaly detection capabilities for aircraft systems and for critical maintenance and troubleshooting efforts. Abbo also opines that there is scope for C3 IoT across the entire value stream of aviation including maintenance and operations planning.

The Wave Ahead – A Sneak Peek

Another California start-up called Peaxy was started in the year 2012. It has executed a set of projects for aerospace clients with a goal to provide improved access to aerospace data. The company’s CEO, Manuel Terranova states that Peaxy has completed analysis of test cell and on wing data for several customers. He says that his company is now looking to develop algorithms for predictive maintenance, which he says is an area that would play a significant role in the industry’s future.

According to Terranova, you will soon see sensors for predictive maintenance put on landing gear, fuselage and turbines. According to him, the business model around predictive maintenance has shifted to the side of the OEMs in order to maintain equipment in an available state. In order to implement predictive algorithms, vast amounts of sensor data are required.

Predictive maintenance is critical to ensuring safe operation of aircraft. Aeroflash is an important safety equipment for planes.

Impetus on Acquisitions

One of the most prominent trends from the past few years is the increase in acquisitions, with large companies like Microsoft, IBM and GE making acquisitions of IoT start-ups in order to grow. One prominent example is that of Cyient. Cyient acquired a major position in the company Invati Insights in the year 2014 before doing a rebranding the company to be Cyient insights. The company now specialises in IoT applications and advanced analytics.