Not couch potatoes; coach potatoes.

Boeing uses 20,000 lbs. of potatoes to check aircraft wireless network signals

Boeing Project SPUDS used potatoes rather than humans to test wireless nets

Boeing calls it Project SPUDS or rather Synthetic Personnel Using Dielectric Substitution - that is, using sacks of potatoes perched on aircraft seats to test the effectiveness of wireless signal in an airliner cabin.

Boeing said it was researching an advanced way to test wireless signals in airplane and needed a way to effectively simulate say 200-300 people sitting in seats throughout the aircraft.

more:
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/boeing-uses-20000-lbs-potatoes-check-aircraft-wireless-network-signals