RFID: State of the Union for Aerospace & Defense
Kenneth D. Porad
Associate Technical Fellow
The Boeing Company
Explosion of RFID Applications
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
RFID Applications Exploding
2011
1T
1B
1M
10T
Nu
mb
er
of R
FID
de
vic
es
20051990 2011 +
Boeing Technology Adoption Cycle (Auto-ID)
2002
True (likely)
adoption cycle
RFID Hype cycle
(lots of)
“Noise”
(nuggets of)
“Actionable knowledge”
Inflated
Expectations
Disillusionment
RFID
Bar-code
Enterprise-wide Benefits of RFID
By working together on these non-competitive standards
initiatives, both Boeing and Airbus benefit by avoiding
conflicting requirements with mutual suppliers and customers
and delivering products and services which create best value.
Customer and Supplier Benefits Production System Benefits
reduces inventory control and
provisioning costs
accurate configuration control and
repair history
reduces warranty claim processing costs
regulatory agency compliance monitoring
part installation and removal time tracking
accurate and efficient spare parts pooling
identification of rogue parts
accurate flight hours tracking by part
reduces parts receiving costs
eliminates data entry errors
provides accurate
“as delivered” configuration
improves part location tracking
reduces risk of unapproved parts
timely problem resolution
Industry Position on Passive RFID
Because passive RFID devices:
■ Have no on-tag power source and no active transmitter, and
■ Perform a ground operated, non-essential function, and
■ Are not potential sources of interference or susceptibility and
■ Are FCC-certified for unlicensed use.
Regulatory agencies have agreed that passive RFID devices
comply with applicable regulations and do not impact form, fit, or
function of installed systems and equipment.
Early Adoption of RFID in Aerospace
Enterprise RFID Projects by Use Case
Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR)
■ Radio and electronic equipment, controls, and wiring
must be installed so that operation of any one unit or
system of units will not adversely affect the
simultaneous operation of any other radio or
electronic unit, or system of units...
■ The occurrence of any failure condition which would
prevent the continued safe flight and landing of the
airplane is extremely improbable, and…
Considerations for Deploying RFID on Parts
■ Line replaceable
■ Repairable
■ Recommended as a spare
■ Frequency of removal
■ Spares price
■ Dispatch criticality
■ Life-limited or time-controlled part
■ Emergency equipment
RFID Proof of Concept with FedEx
FedEx MD-10 N370FE
Annunciator Control Unit
Flap Limit Duplex Actuator Unit
Smoke Detector
Auxiliary Hydraulic Pump
Hand Held Portable Data Terminal
FAA Policy: RFID Conditions for Use on Civil Aircraft
1. Must operate in the passive only mode.
2. Must not radiate (backscatter) harmonics above a level of 35dBuv/m.
3. The frequency assignment must remain outside of the published aviation frequency bands.
4. Harmonic frequencies do not impinge upon any assigned aviation communication or navigation frequency.
5. Use of passive only devices is restricted to ground operations only.
6. Each item of installed equipment must function properly.
7. Designed to operate in an aircraft environment with robust radio frequency stability.
JAL: Current State of Emergency Equipment Checks
JAL maintenance technicians access oxygen generators in
PSUs, ceiling panels, seats and crew rests.
PSUs
Seats Crew Rests
Ceiling
Panels
JAL: Current State of Emergency Equipment Checks, cont.
Mechanics required to check
the expiration date located on
the firing pin.
JAL: Future State of Emergency Equipment Checks With RFID
Dramatic results were achieved.
Before
13 labors hours.
6.5 hour cycle time.
Full ship-set of inventory managed
as “just-in-case” and located in Haneda.
No as-flying configuration management.
Checked as “OK” or “NG”. Generators
replaced 19 months prior to expiration.
20% loss of product life-cycle yield and
greater consumption of product.
After
8.5 labor minutes – 99% reduction
8.5 minutes – 98% reduction
80% reduction, forward deployed to line
stations and managed as “just-in time.”
All transactions captured in front-end
database. As-flying configuration
management allows for generator
replacement in weeks or days before
expiration.
20% recovery of product
life-cycle yield, decrease in product
consumption.
Released Aerospace Standard AS5678
■ Passive, reader talk first protocol
■ 860 - 960 MHz frequency range
■ Complies with ATA SPEC 2000 Chapter 9
■ Environmental tests per DO 160E requirements
■ Metal mount, surface insensitive packaging
■ 20 year service life
■ Complies with FAA policy dated May 13, 2005
■ Air interface in accordance with EPCglobal
(ISO 18000-6C)
RFID Technology Development
2003
13.56 MHzOn-Board
EvaluationConcept
Introduced
2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2011
Extended UserMemory Devices
Available
FAA Policy
Memo
AS5678
Released
ATA Spec
2000
Standards
915 MHz
On-Board
Evaluation
Future RFID Outlook for Aerospace and Defense
■ Purely passive integrated circuit designs will provide extended user memory beyond 64 KB.
■ Data transfer rates will increase dramatically and reach Megabytes per second.
■ Innovative antenna designs will increase range and performance.
■ Active tags incorporating onboard wireless sensor networks will proliferate aerospace products.
■ Prices for commercially available off-the-shelf readers will decrease due to economies of scale.