Innovative Advantage (IA) – manufacturer of AVDS, a 4K video, audio and Ethernet backbone over fibre for business aviation – has presented its new 4-Slot AVDS Node and IAS 6, its latest software package, at the New Products Introduction (NPI) session at this year’s AEA International Convention & Trade Show in Phoenix, Arizona.
4-Slot AVDS is the latest cabin backbone offering, expanding the existing 8-Slot AVDS backbone to make it accessible to mid-size and smaller aircraft, and offer custom, standalone solutions where unique IO is needed.
Designed with modularity and scalability in mind, 4-Slot AVDS Node is a compact, fibre optic distributing solution. It is designed to reduce cabling and provides video, audio and data on a fibre backbone, allowing upgrades such as Bluetooth, HDMI ports and streaming functionality without touching the existing CMS.
The new solution is available as a standalone node with or without fibre ports. IA said it provides aircraft with a cost-effective, compact, modular, fibre-optic backbone with multiple CMS/IFE card configurations with more than 20 cards, including Ethernet ports, digital and analogue audio, HDMI inputs, fibre I/O, video conversion, video encoding/decoding, and more, including support to gaming systems, enabling an at-home videogaming experience with no latency or lip-sync issues.
The 4-slot AVDS system lets customers design a small system – with lower weight and power requirements – and mix and match with 8-slot AVDS nodes. Video upgrades include SD, HD and 4K, stereo, surround and encoded audio. The nodes are immediately available for functionality customisation and installation.
“We’re very excited to launch the 4-slot AVDS Node at AEA’s NPI session as we celebrate our 20th anniversary serving the business aviation community,” said Nestor Fenoy, director of customer solutions. “We’ve been delivering the 8-slot AVDS Node for the past 20 years and now we’re taking those same capabilities and making them accessible in a smaller form factor for mid-size and smaller aircraft, without compromising performance. Thank you to all our customers for continuing to provide us with great feedback on how to improve our products and to our team for constantly innovating and creating great solutions.”
Sixth-generation software package
IAS 6 is the latest software package (the sixth generation) with new enhancements and functionality to continue providing customers with diagnostic and troubleshooting free of charge. New enhancements include Bluetooth audio in both directions, from the passengers’ PEDs to the cabin speakers, control over third-party devices, and advanced Health System monitoring of connected interfaces, capturing network activity during critical events, adding more detailed diagnostics to the snapshots, and video status from source to glass.
“Our team is also excited to release IAS6, the latest AVDS software,” said Fenoy. “This version adds support for our new 4-slot AVDS Node. We continuously enhance the features that customers can integrate with their cabin, like Bluetooth headphones and further consumer device integration. As always, IA is committed to empower all our customers, making it easier for them to troubleshoot the aircraft and furthering those capabilities with IAS 6.”
