Not a trivia question but a trivia fact for those who want to know everything.
Boeing used 20,000 pounds of potatoes in sacks to fill the seats of a decommissioned airplane to test in-flight Wi-Fi signals. This project, called Synthetic Personnel Using Dielectric Substitution (SPUDS), took place around 2012. Potatoes were chosen because their water content and chemical makeup cause them to absorb and reflect radio and wireless signals in a way similar to the human body, making them an effective substitute for human passengers. This allowed Boeing engineers to measure Wi-Fi signal strength and distribution throughout the cabin without needing human volunteers to sit motionless for days. The tests helped identify weak spots in signal coverage and optimize Wi-Fi performance while ensuring compliance with safety standards to avoid interference with aircraft systems. The potatoes used in the tests were later donated to a food bank.
Project SPUDS
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