Optical fibres made of plastic could be used to reduce the weight and boost the performance of in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, following a European Fifth Framework research programme.
Glass optical fibres form the backbone of airliner IFE systems, but copper wire is usually used for the final few metres to the passenger's seat. Copper cable is heavier, more expensive and has a lower data transfer rate than plastic fibre.
The plastic fibres are made of polymethylmethacrylate, a common plastic found in many products. It conducts visible light and the prototype plastic fibre IFE system uses laser pointer-like wavelengths.
"You would have four, eight or 12 seats linked by plastic fibre [from the backbone]," says John Lambkin, chief technology officer of Irish photonics communications technology company Firecomms.
The company developed optical transceiver components, while multinational cable manufacturer Nexans provided the fibre and Cork-based Tyndall Institute supplied the laser light source. Lambkin says Bombardier is evaluating the technology for potential use in airliners.
The €3 million ($3.9 million) Multimedia Optical-Plastic Technologies for In-flight Enter-tainment project ran for 39 months to find a way of integrating plastic fibres into IFE systems.
ROB COPPINGER/LONDON
Source: Flight International
