January/February 2024 - 10

AIRPORT OPERATIONS
project. With the investment from CDA,
the team was able to bring forward
the technology and services of subject
matter experts.
The Cisco Ultra Reliable Wireless
Backhaul (Cisco URWB) solution is
part of Cisco's Industrial IoT portfolio
which is designed for harsh outdoor
environments like the airfield. It's a
technology that combines the reliability
and speed of fiber connectivity with the
flexibility of wireless communications,
all with security at the core.
Like 5G uR-LLC, it features seamless
roaming and ultra-low latency to
enable the most demanding mission
critical and real-time applications.
Podoski
said URWB provides a
private network with encryption.
" We strive to always remain one step
ahead of the threats so it's important
to have a holistic approach to security,
starting with Zero Trust, endpoint
protection, network security, visibility,
threat detection, remediation and more, "
he said. " In the Proof-of-Concept phase
of this project, we were working closely
with our partners on implementing best
practices with an eye to specific needs of
the airfield to keep the solution secure
for the future. "
Cisco URWB provides reliable connectivity
at high speeds and that allowed
development on this project to proceed
without
the bandwidth constraints
typically associated with other forms
of airfield connectivity. It operates on
free spectrum, deploys like Wi-Fi, and
provides network administrators with
full control of what connects to it.
" For this pilot, it was about understanding
the needs of the GTAA
Airfield Operations team, in the short
term and long term, the technologies
that will enable its transformation and
how they would be used, " Podoski said.
" The network underpins everything,
especially as more devices are connected
and more data is generated. Companies
need a strong, agile, reliable and secure
network to make the most of the transformative
technologies they deploy. We
Future Prospects: Evolving
AWV Applications
Browne envisions a significant role
for autonomous vehicles in airfield
operations.
" Airfield inspection is the next step
forward and would be a great gain of
effectiveness, " he noted, reflecting on
the potential applications and benefits
of vehicles like the Honda AWV in
enhancing efficiency and safety.
Looking ahead, VanBuren expressed
Honda's commitment to further developing
the AWV in collaboration with
Eagle Aerospace. While the specific
roadmap is yet to be defined, the goal
is to explore additional use cases and
refine the AWV based on real-world
applications. The openness to testing
diverse applications across different
airports reflects Honda's dedication to
advancing autonomous solutions for
airfield operations.
As the AWV takes its first steps into
airfield operations, the collaboration
between Honda and Eagle Aerospace
promises to revolutionize the way tasks
are handled on airfields. From addressing
labor shortages to enhancing safety
and efficiency, the AWV emerges as a
beacon of innovation in the evolving
landscape of autonomous solutions for
aviation. As technology continues to
evolve, the AWV's role in airfield oper10
\ AIRPORT BUSINESS / JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024
WE STRIVE TO ALWAYS REMAIN
ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE
THREATS SO IT'S IMPORTANT
TO HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH
TO SECURITY, STARTING WITH ZERO
TRUST, ENDPOINT PROTECTION,
NETWORK SECURITY, VISIBILITY, THREAT
DETECTION, REMEDIATION AND MORE. "
wanted to understand all these factors
and make sure we were designing networking
solutions with that in mind. "
ations is poised to expand, making it a
pivotal player in the future of airport
management.
The experience of being part of
this groundbreaking project significantly
influenced the future of Eagle
Aerospace's software. Freed explained
that the architectural design of AIROps
is being reimagined to create a platform
accommodating future autonomous
inspection tools. Utilizing an
API model for more data sources, Eagle
Aerospace is positioning itself at the
forefront of adapting to the evolving
landscape of autonomous technology in
airfield operations.
Post the field test, Eagle Aerospace
identified key findings and outcomes,
proving the potential for various
autonomous vehicle use cases. Freed
expressed the company's commitment
to ongoing collaboration for continuous
improvement, addressing anomalies and
providing necessary training for evolving
skill sets within airport personnel.
As the aviation industry paves the way
for a future with autonomous airfield
operations, Eagle Aerospace stands at
the forefront, ready to shape the evolution
of this transformative technology. 
Download the 2023 Airport Business
Airfield Equipment Condition and
Powerplant Report to see the current
trends in airport investment needs in
airfield equipment.
January/February 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January/February 2024
