Boeing uses potatoes instead of people to test Wi-Fi

American aircraft manufacturer Boeing announced its plans to use potatoes instead of real passengers for the tests of the new Wi-Fi system the company is developing. Representatives of Boeing stated that the interaction between the molecules of potatoes and some electronic signals mimic the human body almost perfectly. Some testing of the strength of the signals to be used inside aircrafts in the near future was run after loading huge sacks of potatoes. Over the following years, researchers had been trying to find molecules that interact with electronic signals in the same way as humans and it appears that they came closest to this idea with potatoes. The engineers of Boeing also joked about the new finding, saying that another advantage of using potatoes is that they never get bored, unlike humans.

The main goal of the company is to help passengers benefit from the strongest Wi-Fi signal they could possibly get while on board of the aircraft, without any side effects on their health. Safety standards are truly important for the company, which will always protect against interference with the electrical systems on board for obvious passenger safety reasons. After some testing, it was discovered that wireless signals tend to fluctuate randomly inside an aircraft cabin, influenced by how passengers move. This could only mean that some seats will benefit from stronger connectivity to the Internet than others. Dennis Lewis, engineer at the American company, said that even though it is normal for passengers to want their laptop and other devices to run anywhere inside the aircraft, they should expect signal fluctuations. In the tests the company attempted so far, about 9,000 kilograms (20,000lbs) of potatoes deposited in sacks were used. Engineers admitted potatoes are the “perfect stand-in” for this experiment, mainly because people would have had to stay motionless while the data necessary for the tests was gathered.

Reactions from institutions such as the Potato Council in the UK appeared immediately. Representatives of this institution said people underestimated the alternative uses of potatoes for years and that this experiment should open new doors and opportunities for other major projects. Another important example of a project that uses the properties of potatoes is in ink and paper manufacturing. Potato starch is an indispensable element, used for increasing the strength of the fibers. It is also known that potatoes can produce electricity and could also help people fight conditions such as tired eyes. Member of the European Potato Trade Association Europatat, Frederic Rosseneu, said the company was greatly interested in the outcome of the experiments run by Boeing and believes potatoes can be used further to make our loves easier. The results engineers at the American aircraft manufacturing company hope to achieve is a consistent and reliable Wi-Fi signal for their aircraft, which could be implemented and tested further over the next years. The system the company is working at will also not interfere with other pieces of equipment necessary for communicating with the ground, ensuring passengers’ safety at all times.