MIDAS · Project

Smaller, Lighter Air Data Probes That Cut Wiring and Boost Aircraft Reliability

transportTestedTRL 6

Imagine the instruments on an airplane's nose that measure speed, altitude, and air pressure — they're bulky, power-hungry, and if one fails, it's a serious problem. MIDAS built a compact, all-in-one replacement that packs sensors, computing, and communication into a single unit you can swap out like a cartridge. It even uses virtual sensors — software that can estimate readings when a physical sensor is blocked by ice — so the aircraft always has reliable data. Think of it as going from a desktop tower to a smartphone, but for flight instruments.

By the numbers

consortium partners, all Italian

total project deliverables

SME partner in consortium

33%

industry ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Aircraft air data systems — the instruments that measure speed, altitude, and atmospheric pressure — are currently bulky, power-hungry, and composed of multiple separate units connected by heavy wiring. For small air transport manufacturers, this adds weight, complexity, and maintenance burden. When a sensor fails or gets blocked by ice, diagnosing and replacing components is slow and costly.

The solution

What was built

A compact, fully integrated air data probe prototype packaged as a single Line-Replaceable Unit with built-in health monitoring, virtual sensor capability, and anti-ice heating. The consortium also delivered a ground support test bench with hardware design documentation and user manual, and completed First Article Inspection of the manufactured prototype.

Audience

Who needs this

Regional and small air transport aircraft manufacturers (OEMs)Avionics component suppliers serving the SAT marketAircraft MRO providers handling air data system repairsFly-by-wire system integrators working on next-generation small aircraftAviation sensor companies looking for virtual sensor IP

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Small Air Transport (SAT) Aircraft Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Regional aircraft OEMs and small air transport manufacturers

If you are a regional aircraft manufacturer dealing with heavy, complex air data systems that require multiple separate units and extensive wiring — this project developed a single Line-Replaceable Unit that integrates all air data sensing, processing, and communication into one compact probe. The prototype was manufactured and tested with a dedicated test bench, covering temperature, vibration, icing, and EMI/EMC verification.

Aerospace Avionics & Sensor Systems

mid-size

Target: Avionics component suppliers and sensor manufacturers

If you are an avionics supplier struggling with the cost and complexity of multi-probe air data architectures — MIDAS demonstrated virtual sensor technology that reduces the number of physical probes needed on an aircraft. The system supports both legacy (Arinc429, CanBUS Arinc825) and modern (AFDX) communication buses, making it compatible with existing and next-generation fly-by-wire systems.

Aircraft Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO)

any

Target: MRO providers and airline fleet operators

If you are an MRO provider facing long turnaround times when replacing faulty air data components — MIDAS designed its probe as a single Line-Replaceable Unit with built-in health monitoring that runs continuous self-tests. This means faster fault detection, simpler swap-outs, and reduced aircraft downtime, all verified through a purpose-built ground support test bench.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this technology cost compared to traditional air data systems?

The project does not publish pricing data. However, the design targets reduced size, weight, and power consumption, and consolidates multiple components into a single Line-Replaceable Unit — all factors that typically lower both unit cost and total installation cost. Contact the consortium for specific pricing discussions.

Can this scale to commercial aviation, or is it limited to small aircraft?

MIDAS was designed specifically for Small Air Transport (SAT) applications under the Clean Sky 2 programme. The core technologies — virtual sensors, AFDX communication, health monitoring — are architecturally scalable, but certification and testing were scoped for SAT aircraft. Scaling to larger platforms would require additional certification work.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

The project was coordinated by Politecnico di Torino with 3 Italian partners including 1 SME and 1 industry partner. IP generated under Clean Sky 2 is typically governed by the Joint Undertaking's IP framework. Licensing discussions should be directed to the consortium coordinator.

How mature is this — is there a working prototype?

Yes. The consortium manufactured and assembled a physical air data probe prototype, completed First Article Inspection, and built a dedicated ground support test bench. Environmental verification covered temperature, vibration, icing, and EMI/EMC testing. This is a tested prototype, not just a design concept.

Does it work with existing aircraft communication systems?

The probe supports legacy communication standards including Arinc429 and CanBUS Arinc825, as well as the modern AFDX bus. The project also explored AFDX-over-fibre links to further reduce wiring weight and signal interference, making it compatible with both current and next-generation fly-by-wire architectures.

What about icing conditions — how does the probe handle ice?

MIDAS includes automatic anti-ice heaters to prevent sensor hole occlusion from ice formation. Additionally, the virtual sensor capability can estimate air data readings even when physical sensors are partially compromised, providing a redundant safety layer during icing encounters.

Is this compliant with aviation regulations?

The project included environmental requirement verification covering temperature, vibration, icing, and EMI/EMC — standard aviation qualification categories. Full certification for a specific aircraft type would require additional steps with the relevant aviation authority (e.g., EASA), but the testing foundation has been laid.

Consortium

Who built it

The MIDAS consortium is a compact, all-Italian team of 3 partners: Politecnico di Torino (a leading technical university) as coordinator, plus 1 industry partner and 1 research organization, with 1 SME in the mix. The 33% industry ratio and the presence of an SME suggest a team that bridges academic research and commercial manufacturing. Being entirely Italian keeps coordination tight, though it means the technology has not yet been exposed to diverse European supply chains. For a business partner, the key advantage is a focused team with demonstrated manufacturing capability — they built and tested a physical prototype, not just a paper design.

POLITECNICO DI TORINOCoordinator · IT
ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI RICERCA METROLOGICAparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

Politecnico di Torino, Italy — search for MIDAS air data probe project lead in their aerospace engineering department

Order a report on this consortium See POLITECNICO DI TORINO profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the MIDAS team to discuss licensing or integration of their air data probe technology? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the consortium.

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