The 787 involved not merely the outsourcing of a known technology. It involved major
technological innovations unproven in any airplane. Would the carbon fiber composite
survive the rigors of international flying? Were there conditions that could cause the cobalt
lithium-ion batteries to malfunction? No one knew for certain. The 787 also contains multiple
new electrical systems, power and distribution panels. The interactions among these novel
technologies, introduced simultaneously, also exponentially increased the risk of innovation.