How Technology Could Potentially Disrupt Flights

Air travel can often feel like an extreme version of the butterfly effect; one delay in New York can ripple throughout the nation and affect flights all around it. Airlines have been working to streamline this process as much as possible, seeking ways to ensure an easy journey for their passengers.

Many are turning to technology for solutions. Here are five emerging technologies that could revolutionize how you fly.

1. 5G Cellular Networks

Although 5G technology promises internet speeds 100 times faster than 4G, some aviation executives fear it could compromise aircraft's safety systems. 5G networks use different frequencies for data transmission than planes do for radar and communications purposes, creating this difference in frequencies used. AT&T and Verizon are employing what are known as C-Band frequencies, which are located near airwaves used by aircraft radar altimeters - crucial devices that help pilots track altitude. Without them, landings could become hazardous in poor weather conditions. Ten leading airlines - Delta, Southwest and American among them - released an open letter on 17 January warning against AT&T and Verizon beginning to roll-out their C-Band services as this could cause "catastrophic disruptions" for US airports and flights.

Airlines contend that 5G transmitters and antennas can interfere with altimeters, designed to measure ground height. Furthermore, this issue could arise at just the wrong time -- just weeks ahead of the busiest travel weekend of the year when disruptions could have the greatest potential impact.

AT&T and Verizon have agreed to reduce the power levels of their transmitters near airports as part of a response to airline concerns, and deploy directional antennas so as to divert their signals away from aircrafts. Both solutions come with drawbacks - shutting down cell towers during peak periods could affect coverage and reliability in other areas, while installing expensive antennas requires extra time and money.

The airlines' primary objective is to get the FAA to mandate that 5G transmitters be located at least two miles from airports, where interference risks with aircraft are lower. Meanwhile, 5G companies point out they have already deployed 5G networks without incident elsewhere, and claim their issue can be addressed by decreasing power transmitters; yet as yet there has been no response from the FAA on this matter.

2. Radar Altimeters

An impending deadline for airlines to retrofit their planes with new technology could disrupt flights during one of the busiest travel weekends of 2018. Airline leaders have raised concerns that new 5G technology may interfere with radar altimeters that help aircraft detect their height above the surface below them.

Radio frequency transmissions used for wireless data and communications typically utilize frequency bands that are reserved solely for their intended uses, such as aviation radar. Unfortunately, 5G C-Band frequency range overlaps with the Aeronautical Radionavigation Service (ARS) spectrum - required for aircraft flight safety and efficiency - thus potentially interfering with its functionality and creating interference for radar altimeter equipment installed on commercial aircraft.

The radar altimeter measures distance to ground or terrain below an aircraft by sending out radio frequency signals, then timing how long they take to return up from ground level or ocean floor, and measuring their return up from there. This data is translated to height above ground; measurements are updated multiple times every second and undergo quality control to remove duplicate observations as well as incorrect or noisy ones; combined super observations (SLA and SWH models for instance) are then created from this data set.

Laser altimeters measure the height of aircrafts above the ground by emitting pulses of light downward from an aircraft and tracking how long it takes for those pulses to reflect back up again. The information from these systems helps pilots avoid flying too low over hazardous obstacles, perform Cat 2/3 approaches more accurately, and provide early warning for crew members of potential ground proximity.

Clay Barber, principal engineer with Garmin International, believes that if FAA directives do not permit radar altimeter manufacturers to apply for alternative compliance by showing they are immune from being affected by 5G C-Band transmissions then this would place undue stress on industry and flight safety. He feels this would place unnecessary burdens on them both.

3. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most sought-after new technologies. From Amazon Alexa and Siri to being at the core of self-driving cars, AI is at the forefront of modern life. However, AI also serves many different uses within businesses; airlines may utilize its services from automating mundane tasks to helping pilots make smarter emergency decisions.

Aviation industries are already turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to improve flight efficiency and safety. One company called Algo uses machine learning to set routes for jets flying through the skies - although humans always retain final say over when to fly their planes.

AI technology can also assist airlines in avoiding overbooked flights by using passenger data, weather patterns and other factors to predict how many people may show up for each flight - this allows airline staff to plan ahead without needing to remove passengers prior to takeoff.

AI can also assist airlines in detecting aircraft problems before they cause major disruptions. By analyzing flight logs and maintenance reports, this technology can spot items like brakes or generators which need replacement, thus helping minimize delays caused by mechanical issues.

While these advances bring convenience and enhance travel by adding tech wizardry, AI in aviation poses a greater danger: that it could one day replace human pilots - something many experts consider inevitable as companies invest more in AI technologies as part of efforts to save on fuel and other expenses.

Although AI may create fears among some individuals, many experts agree that its benefits outweigh its risks. As technology develops further, businesses will need to ensure they employ AI responsibly by using appropriate tools and setting clear expectations; organizations can ensure their AI is doing exactly what it was meant to do without creating unnecessary risks or security threats.

4. Smart Cameras

Today's smart cameras provide much more than traditional surveillance. Equipped with onboard processors, intelligent algorithms and AI/ML modeling edge computing technology, these devices are capable of acting upon real-time data almost instantaneously - as was demonstrated at ISC West 2018, when smart camera networks enabled numerous industries to reimagine new applications using this innovative technology.

Smart cameras combine powerful processors, high-speed CMOS image sensors and easy connectivity for use in industrial automation tasks. For instance, they can be used to acquire and process images of plastic parts for quality control, tracking or line monitoring purposes - these cameras may even be linked with other data sensors for an integrated vision system! Moreover, smart cameras can be deployed in challenging physical environments where vision sensors would otherwise fail; sealed protection can protect them against harmful chemicals, vibration, extreme temperatures and moisture exposure.

Smart cameras' primary advantages lie in their compact size and ease of deployment. Their small footprints and internal processors (often extremely fast) make them an attractive alternative to more complex host-based vision systems like line scan instruments. Furthermore, smart cameras' embedded FPGAs enable low-level image preprocessing that reduces CPU workload while guaranteeing consistent speed with zero latency for the system as a whole.

Most smart camera platforms are programmable using open source software that enables integrators to develop inspection algorithms using third-party libraries if required. When coupled with their high-speed, low-power image sensors, these smart cameras are a viable alternative to more costly host-based systems for various applications.

As technology evolves, more sophisticated and powerful smart cameras are appearing, offering features applicable across a variety of industries. Smart cameras utilize edge computing to reduce computational loads in their host processor and processing time while eliminating frame grabbers for increased reliability, making them attractive options in various fields including industrial manufacturing, retail sales, security monitoring, home monitoring as well as front door/garden gate monitoring allowing users to be alerted of unexpected activity before it occurs.