Aircraft DC networks characterization and adaptive stage design for PLC use

Aerospace industry is moving towards a more electric aircraft (MEA) or even an all-electric aircraft (AEA), which will incite the focus on reducing the total harness mass and complexity, thus employing powerline communication (PLC) technique seems to be a potential solution to be implemented for airborne uses. This paper explores the feasibility to implement PLC technology over aircraft DC powerline, fed by switched-mode power supply. First, a channel characterization and analysis were conducted, also an adaptive stage was discussed and designed to transmit the data over an already existing powerline. Furthermore, the channel capacity was estimated along with the required data signal level. This study investigates also a real-case context with the use of switched-mode dc/dc converter which effect the PLC performance and signal integrity. Eventually, PLC implementation and tests were conducted as well as discussed from latency, bit error rate (BER) and EMC compliance perspective with the RTCA DO-160G standard requirements.