The Alternative Wireless Communication Technologies (ADKT) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action under grant 20K1901A, ran from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2023. Its main objective was to investigate wireless radio technologies that could replace or complement the current IEEE 802.11‑based WLAN used in aircraft cabins. The study focused on key performance criteria such as range, data rate, localisation accuracy, security, regulatory approval, energy efficiency, and coexistence with existing systems. The ultimate goal was to develop a generic, retrofit‑friendly architecture that could be installed on older aircraft models with minimal cost and effort, thereby enabling new digital services such as just‑in‑time logistics, on‑demand cabin maintenance, and enhanced cabin management and entertainment systems.
The technical work was organised into five main work packages (HAPs). In the first package, a comprehensive literature review and technology survey identified relevant application domains within the cabin and extracted the essential requirements for each. This analysis guided the selection of candidate technologies and the design of a test concept. The second package involved a hardware survey and the selection of modules and devices suitable for the test system. An overall system architecture was then defined, leading to the construction of isolated laboratory test rigs and a large‑scale test rig that would be installed in an Airbus A320 cabin mock‑up.
During the third package, the hardware was assembled and integrated, and all software and configuration files for the measurement and test systems were developed. The system was commissioned and subjected to a series of tests inside the mock‑up. The data collected from these measurements informed iterative adjustments to the measurement setup and subsequent retesting. The fourth package addressed the integration of the system into an actual aircraft from a certification and production perspective, and evaluated the commercial viability of the individual subsystems. The final package focused on disseminating the findings within the aviation industry and incorporating external feedback into the project.
The test rig was installed in a full‑scale Airbus A320 cabin mock‑up at the Zentrum für angewandte Luftfahrtforschung (ZAL) in Hamburg. The project’s simulation environment, developed by the Technical University of Dresden (TUD), enabled radio‑frequency signal generation, channel emulation, and interference assessment for the candidate technologies. The simulation platform also supported interoperability testing between different wireless systems. The hardware integration and application development were carried out by Dresden Elektronik GmbH (DDE), which provided the necessary hardware information, assisted in application development, and performed troubleshooting and final testing of the demonstrator applications.
The project experienced several delays, primarily due to the redesign of the test environment for a fixed installation in a test aircraft and the completion of the cabin mock‑up, which was only finished in February 2023. Consequently, the overall schedule was shifted by six months, and the project concluded on 31 August 2023. Despite these setbacks, the ADKT project produced a comprehensive evaluation of alternative wireless technologies, a validated test system, and a set of design guidelines for retrofitting older aircraft. The results are intended to support the development of future cabin communication systems that offer higher data rates, improved localisation, and better coexistence with existing avionics, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and passenger experience.