Unusual substitute for Passengers used to test for in-flight wi-fi system

[bobito]

Boeing used potatoes instead of people to test for in-flight wi-fi system. The test was aimed at checking the distribution of signal since wireless signals fluctuate randomly in an enclosed space.

Several tests were to follow to ensure that passengers would get the strongest possible wi-fi signal while in the air, all while meeting safety standards that protect against interference with an aircraft's electrical systems.

credit: bbc

Engineers mentioned that potatoes' "interactions" with electronic signals mimic those of a human body, making them the perfect stand-in for people who would otherwise have had to sit motionless for days while the data was gathered. It seems there are more can be archieved with poatatoes or other foods than just eating them.






ref: bbc