Boeing Engineers Use Spuds To Improve In-Air Wi-Fi - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Boeing Engineers Use Spuds To Improve In-Air Wi-Fi

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CHICAGO (AP) - Engineers at aircraft maker Boeing Co. are using an odd mix of high and low-tech tools as they strive to iron out weak spots in onboard wireless Internet signals.
    
The Chicago-based company's researchers needed full planes to get accurate results during signal testing, but they couldn't ask people to sit motionless for days while data was gathered.
    
Boeing spokesman Adam Tischler says that's where potatoes come into the picture.
    
It turns out that because of their water content and chemistry, potatoes absorb and reflect radio wave signals much the same way as the human body. So, Boeing engineers put sacks of potatoes in seats to stand in for passengers.
    
The company says the work has greatly improved Internet connectivity on its planes.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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