Twenty years ago, engineer Richard Morris and his wife Sally launched Innovative Advantage to develop the first audio/video distribution system (AVDS) for business aircraft. Even before massive amounts of streaming video data came onto the scene, Morris saw a need for a fiber-optic backbone that supports AVDS nodes with configurable slots for in-flight entertainment (IFE) and cabin management system (CMS) components and that can handle almost unlimited growth. The past two decades have borne out Morris’ convictions.

“Innovative Advantage has a history of technology innovations,” said Greg Cornell, the Kirkland, Washington company’s president. “[It] hit at a perfect time where fiber-optic distribution was at an inflection point where it could be used as a backbone.” Since its founding in 2005, Innovative Advantage has delivered more than 10,000 AVDS nodes, and the first one is still working and remains upgradeable.

Key to the development of AVDS and the fiber-optic backbone were engineers Jim Bergley, Steve Spang, and Rob Dahlgren, all of whom joined the start-up company and still work there.

The advantage of the AVDS is not only the upgradeability of the nodes but also the ability of the fiber-optic backbone to host as many nodes as an aircraft needs. A larger VIP jet, for example, might need 18, although more can be added. Smaller aircraft would require just a few. Another advantage is that the fiber-optic backbone is compatible with components from other IFE and CMS manufacturers, so a customer can enjoy the benefits of a Collins Venue or Honeywell Ovation system while also retaining the Innovative Advantage backbone and upgradeability.

“The AVDS node is an LRU [line-replaceable unit] that has eight slots you can configure,” Cornell explained. “When designing the cabin, you can create an LRU with exactly what the customer wants, in that specific location. You can start with one LRU and can scale it up to a bunch, all connected but that act as one with the fiber backbone.

“The upgradeability with those card slots is not only great for the initial installation but also a huge advantage for the continued evolution of the aircraft. Our first node ever installed and all nodes can be reworked to add new capabilities. We’ve been around 20 years and never obsoleted a component.”

The fiber-optic backbone’s advantages include light weight, no emissions or electromagnetic interference, and bandwidth that remains expansive enough for today’s and future needs. “We see no ceiling for data with the existing wiring,” he said.

The transport layer used on the Innovative Advantage backbone is Ethernet for streaming or high-speed internet. Video can be instantly changed to an uncompressed serialized data stream, which Cornell explained is best for low-latency needs such as gaming on the internet. “High-speed internet availability is going up and costs are coming down; with new low-earth-orbit-based systems, you can play video games like you’re in your home.”

Early versions of the AVDS enabled connection to CRT monitors with RCA jacks but those were easily upgraded to the latest technology to accommodate streaming video and 4K monitors. “It’s the old backbone, and we make small changes to get all of those new capabilities,” he said. “If you look at the history of CMSs, that’s pretty unprecedented. We allow you to continually evolve your cabin.”

That flexibility means that a customer who had 32-pin Apple connectors installed 10 years ago can replace those with USB-C ports or easily add HDMI by sending a node back to Innovative Advantage to be upgraded. Customers also have access to client software to install software upgrades and troubleshoot their systems without having to wait for Innovative Advantage. 

Features of the software include the one-click snapshot, which provides predefined tests that the customer can run and then view a shareable report of any issues. The client can also help troubleshoot cabling, monitors, amplifiers, and other components. “This is another thing that is unique in the CMS/IFE industry,” Cornell said. “It’s cool to see how customers embrace it and take advantage of it.”

Both aftermarket dealers and aircraft OEMs are installing Innovative Advantage AVDS in midsize and larger jets. “Our products are delivered on about 200 new aircraft per year,” he said.

For upcoming advancements, Innovative Advantage is looking at how to help mitigate staffing shortages at avionics installers, using its software to help dealers install and troubleshoot systems. Essentially, the aircraft will be able to check the system and report any issues. “I think we’re at the technology inflection point,” Cornell said. “The next thing we’ll see is continued expansion of the backbone. There are other areas of the backbone we can expand and make more of the cabin connected and smart. You’ll see some more of that from us in the future.”

A recent development is a new signal converter box with USB-C connectivity. “USB-C is interesting,” he said, “because with one connector you’re now able to do 4K video and charge at pretty high wattages.” Innovative Advantage has also developed Bluetooth adapters. “We’re trying to remove weight and wiring, if we can distribute audio wirelessly to headphones.”

For the flight deck, Innovative Advantage has taken feeds from multiple external cameras and stitched them together so pilots can look at wingtip position on large airplanes to avoid running into something on the ground. The combined imagery allows Innovative Advantage to enhance the imagery by drawing lines to highlight the location of a wingtip that can’t be seen from a flight deck window. So far, the company has provided this system for Boeing BBJs and Airbus ACJs. Another use of the backbone is to take imagery from head-up displays or infrared cameras and pipe it to cabin monitors. 

Innovative Advantage will be celebrating its 20th anniversary at the upcoming Aircraft Electronics Association convention in Phoenix from March 18 to 21 and at NBAA-BACE from October 14 to 16 in Las Vegas.