IoT-Enabled Monitoring System for Critical Components in Ground Support Equipment

Electric Vehicle (EV) Remote-Controlled (RC) Pushback Tugs are essential Ground Support Equipment (GSE) in aviation, facilitating aircraft mobilization and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) activities. This study presents an IoT-enabled monitoring system designed to enhance the reliability and safety of critical components in these vehicles. Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) metrics, identified using Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), focus on parameters such as hydraulic oil levels, battery temperature, and motor RPM and temperature. The system employs lightweight architecture with the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol for efficient data transmission, integrating Arduino and Raspberry Pi nodes for sensor data processing. Real-time data and historical trends are visualized through dashboards. Performance tests demonstrated reliable operation, achieving a mean data transmission latency of 3.58 s and a Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 6 under ideal conditions. This framework supports operational safety, early diagnostics, and preventive maintenance, paving the way for smarter and more efficient ground support equipment.