Sectoral applications of IoT: Revolutionizing aviation

Dallas - Fort Worth International Airport has launched a pilot product of biometric technology in each customer's "touchpoint" when traveling with World Travel & Tourism Council, American Airlines, Hilton and MSC Cruises (Photo: VNA)

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The commercial aviation industry is one of the most complex organisations in society, representing a system of different sub-systems. There are airline operators, airports, flight controllers, maintenance providers and grounder handlers. Each player within this space often has multiple systems working independently, all of which have potential to deliver better efficiency through connectivity.

The adoption of the IoT forms part of the entire digital transformation process of aviation companies. The digital transformation process is defined as the necessary changes to a company for technology and its possibilities to lead to way of working and doing business of the company.

Mr. Andrew Lobbenberg, analyst at HSBC Bank plc, said in terms of business application, cost reduction opportunities, operational improvement and revenue optimisation opportunities abound. Examples include:

First, IoT technology offers opportunities in sharing real-time data from multiple components across the aircraft. In monitoring the real-time performance of components, predictive maintenance can optimise MRO costs and reduce the down-time of aircraft. This is happening already across airlines but has potential for further development.

Second, airlines and airports are now using beacon technology to offer their flyers an improved flying experience and themselves improved revenue generation, by offering a seamless flow of information between the carrier and passengers. IoT-enabled beacon technology adds value to the traveller in every step along the way - finding the right gate; getting alerts about departure time; customising the in-flight experience; and, focussing on revenue generation, offering personalised recommendations. Airports such as Helsinki, Miami and Tokyo Haneda were early adopters of the iBeacon technology, with hundreds of sensors throughout the terminals. These can communicate with travellers’ smartphones in real-time, conveying location-relevant information, estimated times for passport control, etc. They also collect data on foot traffic, helping to avoid bottlenecks and adjusting staffing time-tables.

Third, the IoT has promise for baggage handling and retrieving lost baggage. Delta and Lufthansa are both working with an RFID-tag based baggage tracking system, which allows passengers to track the location of their bags in real-time, from the plane all the way through the airport. Lufthansa’s product offers travellers the option of a ‘Smart bag’, using a RIMOWA electronic tag that allows passengers to check-in their luggage from home, and then simply drop it off at the automated station.

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Fourth, a particularly relevant example of IoT technology in aviation today comes from the use of “Loggers”. These are remote temperature measuring devices which are deployed in cargo containers and have proven essential in the temperature management of vaccine distribution. A vaccine data logger is used for monitoring the temperature or humidity of a vaccine during every stage of the supply chain, including storage and transportation. Temperature data loggers can be programmed to notify supply chain managers if a vaccine enters an undesired temperature zone. This helps facilities to certify that they are working with safe temperatures and comply with government guidelines and that the vaccine’s efficiency is not compromised during transportation. This is a new, highly relevant application of IoT to logistics and aviation.