Wireless savings in the air

Earlier this month, the Solar Impulse aircraft took to the air for more than 24 hours, powered only by energy from the Sun. With a wingspan close to that of a Boeing 747, everything about Solar Impulse is focused on keeping the weight down. As a result, it can cruise at 10 000m at a speed of just 40km/h.

Each solar panel mounted on the massive wings is controlled by a dedicated power-management unit. These units communicate using an onboard network. But, concerned about the weight of cables, the only wiring across the wing is used to carry power. Communication between power-management units is through a wireless network because that works out to be lighter.

It’s not just the Solar Impulse team that is concerned about cabling. Aircraft companies such as Boeing are looking more closely at low-power wireless networks as a way of linking the buttons above and in passenger seats to the entertainment computers. They are doing this because removing the cables can make the craft lighter and more energy efficient.

Posted by Chris Edwards

The Low-Power Design Blog is sponsored by Mentor Graphics. The company has focused years of R&D on low-power design techniques and is glad to support a resource that highlights creative methods for reducing the power consumption of electronic systems.