Boeing Uses Potatoes to Improve WiFi Connectivity
KingFISHER 2012/12/25 14:24
The airplane manufacturer used 20,000 potato sacks to help conduct tests on wireless signal strength in its aircraft.
Airplane manufacturer Boeing has taken some interesting steps in its efforts to test improvements on wireless signals in airplane cabins, making it possible for passengers to enjoy more reliable connectivity when using networked personal electronic devices in the air.
It turns out much of the testing was conducted on the grounded airplane with the seats filled with 20,000 pounds of potato sacks (to simulate the bulk of human beings) through which wireless signals must pass. In addition to the potato sacks, Boeing engineers created a new process for measuring radio signal quality using proprietary measurement technology and analysis tools, which enables engineers to more efficiently measure how strong a signal is and how far it spreads.