Applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process to the Selection of Main Aircraft Batteries 1999-01-1364

This paper explores an approach, based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process, that provides a logical, quantitative means to identify the best battery types to employ in each of the following categories of aircraft: fighter, bomber, and cargo/transport. Three battery types are considered: vented nickel-cadmium (VNC), ultra-low maintenance (vented) nickel-cadmium (ULMNC), and sealed lead-acid (SLA). The analysis ranks the three battery types for suitability of use on each aircraft type based on eleven selection criteria: Current Output, Energy Density, Power Density, Reliability, Ruggedness, Initial Cost, Life-Cycle Cost, Maintainability, Useful Life, Hazard Level, and Experience. (The rankings are based on the judgement of the author drawing from opinions of experts and published technical sources).

The selection criteria are weighted according to their relative importance for each of three aircraft types. The battery types are then rated against one another for each of the eleven selection criteria. These battery comparisons are mathematically related, by use of matrix algebra, to the weighted selection criteria in order to score all three batteries on how suitable they are for each aircraft type.

The results indicate the following. For fighters: SLA (37%), ULMNC (35%), and VNC (27%). For bombers: ULMNC (36%), SLA (35%), and VNC (28%). For cargo/ transports: SLA (35%), ULMNC (34%), and VNC (30%). The higher percentage indicates more highly recommended.