Airlines can now deliver power and WiFi on board more efficiently, thanks to the next generation of Astronics offerings announced this week at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2022 in Hamburg. The company’s new CabinAXe wireless access point and EmPower® UltraLite G2 USB power solutions each bring notable upgrades to their respective product line.
More frequencies with WiFi 6E
When it comes to quality in-flight WiFi connectivity, getting the cabin connections is a big part of the equation. To help on that front Astronics is extending its cabin wireless access point product line with CabinAXe, the first to meet the new WiFi 6E standards. The tri-radio solution includes up to 1.2GHz of unlicensed spectrum in the 6GHz band. This new authorization provides less congestion and larger channel widths for greater connectivity throughput.
CabinAXe is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to passenger experience. Added sensing capabilities for IoT applications and integration with Summit Line components demonstrates our attention to existing IFEC systems with a strong look to the future in the cabin.
– Mike Kuehn, President of Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certification
While that new spectrum is not widely in use today, it is expected to see broad adoption going forward, and this hardware will be on the planes for some years ahead.
CabinAXe also offers expanded support for future IoT applications and future classes of personal electronic devices. It also includes separate Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Zigbee radios for managing and servicing low-powered, remote sensing devices and beacons on board.
The new access points are backwards compatible, supporting all previously released Wi-Fi bands and standards. They are also compatible with ARINC 628 installations specifications, certified for retrofit applications, and ready for line fit applications.
The access points deliver multi-gigabit Wi-Fi speeds and dynamically steer traffic. Each radio supports up to 513 associated client devices, significantly increasing the system’s overall capacity.
Smarter, lighter power
UltraLite G2 is the next-generation system to Astronics’ revolutionary EmPower® UltraLite system introduced in 2018. The UltraLite system is a lightweight architecture providing high output power for passenger use without the need for a power supply installed at each seat group. The result is a lower cost, lower weight system, that does not encroach on passenger foot space, allowing for greater installation flexibility over traditional, seat-group-based architectures.
The UltraLite G2 system delvers 800 Watts per power supply in one of the most compact form factors on the market. The kit also operates with greater than 93% efficiency.
Airlines can choose between USB-A, USB-C, or a combination outlet with both. Each seat can receive up to 60W of power on the USB-C port.
“Intelligence is built into every UltraLite G2 system component, which continually communicates with one another to provide enhanced power management across the entire system,” explained Dennis Markert, Director of Business Development of Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems. “This advanced capability results in a system that is adaptable for virtually any installation requirement, any selected level of power management, and can be tailored to create a unique passenger experience.”
More news from Aircraft Interiors Expo 2022
- ThinKom targets regional jets with smaller antenna solution
- Philippine Airlines adds streaming IFE with Inflight Dublin
- AERQ brings Welcome Board to Stelia’s Opera business class cabin
- Bluetooth pairing coming to Delta’s long-haul fleet
- Carlisle delivers ESA mount kit for Gilat
- Burrana secures power line-fit access for A320 family
- OneWeb, Stellar Blu confirm successful LEO in-flight connectivity tests on 777
- The future of aircraft interiors: Winners of the Crystal Cabin Awards 2022 announced
- Inflight Dublin expands deployments with Wideroe, Drukair
- Euphony promises top-quality sound without headphones
- Astronics boosts cabin WiFi, power offerings
- Starlink Scuttlebutt: Skepticism and Support
- Airbus advances 5G ATG connections in China
- Air Canada selects Intelsat 2Ku for A321 internet service
- In-flight connectivity’s next major hurdle: Smaller planes
- Telekom FlyNet app eases in-flight connectivity for Lufthansa passengers
- Slowing their ESA roll
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