iPods used as "black box" for airplanes
updated 09:20 am EST, Thu February 22, 2007
iPods used as "black box"
Pilots may soon rely on the iPod for the operation of their aircraft. A new report indicates that the hugely popular iPod media player may become an integral part of one airplane manufacturer's airplane design. The iPod could become a flight data recorder (FDR) following an announcement by US light aircraft manufacturer LoPresti Speed Merchants to introduce the device in the cockpit of its Fury piston aircraft, Flight reports. The Florida-based company is planning for "full integration of the iPod into the Fury's avionics systems." The report says that the iPod will serve as a digital data recorder, a.k.a as the "black box"--often used to help determine the cause of plane crashes/tragedies.
Along with suitable software, the iPod can be used to record important flight data and equipment readings to its internal hard drive, offering the ability to record over 500h of flight time data.
The company, however, was not specific about the types of information that would be recorded, the report said. Recorders are currently used to collect data for maintenance purposes through system monitoring, for post-flight analysis in training and safety-monitoring, and, when suitably protected, for crash investigation.
"This is a watershed technology for aviation," says LoPresti vice president of operations, RJ Siegel, "and we are delighted to be the first to bring it to market." The Fury (pictured below) will prove the concept, but once certificated, the iPod FDR could be deployed on other light aircraft.
iPods, however, are not just limited to cockpits. One innovative Mexican airline has already begun renting iPods to passengers, ahead of planned iPod integration by many of the major US airlines.
As an added bonus...
02/22, 09:39am reply
the iPod black box will have the ability to reveal the last song the pilot was listening to before his plane bit the dust.
trevj
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 1999
a more accurate
02/22, 09:40am reply
headline might be "iPod used inside 'black box' for airplanes'
I sincerely doubt that the iPod will be used in place of the black box, which is crash-survivable; it's merely being used as the recorder.
climacs
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Joined: Sep 2001
Ditto
02/22, 10:01am reply
Of course... the iPod being well known for it's ability to survive fiery crashes. Perhaps it'll be restricted to glider crashes from altitude of 20 feet or less.
JacquesDav
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Joined: Jun 2002
re: as an added bonus
02/22, 10:12am reply
"the iPod black box will have the ability to reveal the last song the pilot was listening to before his plane bit the dust."
Now THAT"S funny, I don't care who youe are! Seriously, this seems an odd choice. Wouldn't something other than an iPod be cheaper?
mgpalma
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Joined: Sep 2000
Ummm...
02/22, 11:59am reply
...yeah. My a**, this will happen.
tpressman
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Joined: Aug 2004
re: mgpalma
02/22, 12:22pm reply
"Now THAT"S funny, I don't care who youe are! Seriously, this seems an odd choice. Wouldn't something other than an iPod be cheaper?"
Actually, the iPod is TOO cheap. It's a commercial device. There's a reason aviation equipment is more expensive.
simdude
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Joined: Jun 2004
Sloppy
02/22, 12:24pm reply
This is very sloppy writing. The pilot will not "rely on the iPod for the operation of their aircraft". The flight data recorder is not a critical component from the point of view of the pilot. If it fails the safety and capability of the aircraft is not compromised in any way.
The way this article is written it makes it sound like the iPod will be a critical component of these aircraft which simply is not true.
Michael Ash
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Joined: Sep 2000
Gumstix
02/22, 12:33pm reply
You can buy the hard drives directly for much less than an iPod... unless they plan to run the entire backup software on the iPod it's really not worth it... even then a gumstix would be cheaper :)
bloodline
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Pick Pick Pick
02/22, 01:43pm reply
The fact is that it will be used AS A DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM for FDRs in LIGHT AIRCRAFT, where there is no affordable solution for the pilots who crash every day across the country.
This is an incredible idea!
Of course, the iPod will be housed in something like this: http://www.ntsb.gov/Events/symp_rec/proceedings/authors/brooks.htm
The fact is that it has proven itself to be a platform for something extremely useful, with technical specs that far surpass what pilots have available today.
jcatma61
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Joined: Nov 2006
Cool
02/22, 02:00pm reply
Actually, you cannot buy the harddrive for less then the iPod unless you are buying in big volume. Moreover, it is not just the harddrive one is purchasing with an iPod. iPods include processors, an OS, and input devices, all reassembled for you.
This flight recorder will likely use its own software to interface with the iPod's OS. Much like voice recorders for the iPod do. Moreover, Black Boxs are nothing more then recorders, accordingly, the iPod will replace the Black Box. It likely will be encased in soe sortof flame proof crash resistent container.
Pretty ingenious if you ask me. That is a company that is thinking.
PS the joke was funny.
Terrin
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Joined: Jan 2006