Retrieval of Flight Data Recorders from Deep Sea using Secured Wireless Networks

Vol.5 No.3

Year: 2011

Issue: Jan-Mar                                  

Title: Retrieval of Flight Data Recorders from Deep Sea using Secured Wireless Networks   

Author Name: Charles C. Castello, Jeffrey Fan   

Synopsis:   

There has been much research in recent years dealing with many crucial interests for flight data recorders (FDR). However, there has been little or no research dealing with the localization of FDRs in the event of a crash. One particular scenario of importance is the localization of FDRs in the ocean, which covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. In order to quickly locate lost FDRs in the ocean, a secured wireless network is utilized where each node is mounted on a buoy with an identification tag. This network of buoys is released at an estimated crash site at random locations within pre-defined vicinity. Each buoy is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor, which is tethered to the bottom of the buoy at a specific depth. MATLAB simulations have been implemented to study the feasibility of the proposed methodology, considering various numbers of buoys, days allowed to drift, and miles traveled per day. The experimental results showed that percentage of success in finding the vicinity of the FDR was between 8.9% and 100% depending upon parameters of buoys, days, and miles, by using the Monte Carlo method.