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Fredonia Prof’s Newly Patented System May Make ‘Black Box’ Obsolete

FREDONIA — After any airplane disaster, investigators use the flight data recorder known as a black box to determine the cause of the crash or incident. The problem is the black box, which is really orange colored and very well-built, sometimes is not easily found.

In August, Professor Junaid Zubairi received patent US 9,718,557 B2 for his Flight Data Tracker. During a Monday morning news conference at SUNY Fredonia, he explained his system which has the potential to revolutionize investigations by allowing data to be stored in real time on the ground.

“If the flight ends abruptly due to an accident, the data available in the (ground based) server would allow the investigation into the crash to start immediately instead of searching for the black box,” he explained.

This can save two very important things — time and money. Zubairi’s presentation began with information about past crashes. For example, Air France Flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009. The black box was not found until two years later, and the cost of the search was $40 million. Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014. Despite a search launched by 25 countries eventually costing $200 million, the flight data recorder has not been found. The search has been halted without finding an answer to the cause of the crash.

The system also has the potential to save something even more precious–lives. As the patent abstract states, “The delay in finding the flight data creates risks for future flights if the crash occurred due to a manufacturing defect in the model of the plane …”

In addition, there is a possibility that the system could avert disaster mid-flight.

“If data is monitored in real-time, any abnormal data may trigger warnings and corrective measures can be taken to avoid a disaster,” Zubairi said.

He cited Northwest Airlines Flight 188 which in October 2009 missed its designated airport by 150 miles due to pilot distraction and error. His system involves a main server, a plane server, as well as a string of intermediate servers. A miss in timing would indicate a potential problem and could trigger alarms.

Zubairi began his work to develop the new technology during the 2010-11 academic year. He likes to involve his students in his research. Undergraduate students Ahenk Er, Zhoujun Fu, Sean Wignall and Iago De Silva, all of whom have graduated, assisted him.

“They made a good contribution,” he said.

He hopes that his work dispels some of the myth against Islam.

“I am trying to follow the real Islam. Those people who kill do not represent Muslims. Americans are smart, and they will see that. I am working on research for saving lives.”

In addition to Zubairi, Steven Wood of the SUNY Research Foundation; Kevin Kearns, Vice President for Engagement and Economic Development; Teresa Brown, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; and Ziya Arnovut, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Computer and Information Services; attended the news conference and added their comments.

Arnovut spoke of his hope that more support is given to Information Technology so that students can be prepared for jobs that will help in this area.

“We can do it, but we need everyone’s support,” he said.

Wood commended Zubairi for his tenacity and perseverance as a researcher and inventor. However, Wood stepped in to help him get the patent and his name appears as attorney on the document. The Research Foundation will assist with the commercialization process.

Brown stressed to the media present at the conference that the granting of a patent is “very big.” “To have a patent here is significant. Our mission is to combine research and scholarship … This is a proud moment for Fredonia,” he said.

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