Development of robust hybrids for smart skin avionics

The author presents the conceptualization of robust hybrids which are conformally integrated onto aircraft structure for structural health monitoring applications. The robust hybrid concept exhibits high-performance signal processing and uses advanced hybrid packaging technologies to satisfy conformal integration requirements. The author also discusses the basic issues and requirements of smart skin avionics. The predominant issues of smart skin avionics integration include the thermal management, interconnects and mechanical attachment of modular avionics onto aircraft structure. It is concluded that the development of robust hybrids for sensor processing could introduce smart skins technologies to future avionics systems