After a tragic Air India crash that claimed the lives of 260 individuals in June, engineers are now exploring innovative solutions to prevent such catastrophes in the future. One unique concept, known as Project Rebirth, aims to equip airplanes with a sophisticated system of airbags, akin to those in cars, to render the aircraft crash-resistant in unavoidable crash scenarios. The system, developed by two aspiring engineers from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani Dubai campus, incorporates smart airbags, impact-absorbing fluids, and mid-air reverse thrust to transform fatal crashes into survivable landings.
Dharsan Srinivasan and Eshel Wasim, the masterminds behind Project Rebirth, conceived the idea while participating in the prestigious James Dyson Award competition. Their invention, now a finalist for the esteemed accolade, focuses on three core principles: mitigating impact, reducing descent speed, and absorbing energy. Termed as the ‘first AI-powered crash survival system,’ the duo believes that their creation is a response to tragedy, aiming to offer a second chance at survival even after the failure of traditional safety measures.
The proposed airplane system under Project Rebirth integrates five smart technologies to predict crashes, slow down the aircraft, shield passengers, and assist rescuers. In case of an unavoidable crash below 3,000 feet, the AI system onboard the plane would automatically trigger the deployment of high-speed airbags from various sections of the aircraft to cushion the impact and ensure a controlled descent. Additionally, the system includes the use of reverse thrust to decelerate the aircraft’s descent and smart fluids that harden upon impact to reduce injuries in a crash.
The creators envision that Project Rebirth can be retrofitted onto existing airplanes or incorporated into new aircraft designs. They plan to collaborate with aerospace laboratories to further test and refine their innovation. While traditional aviation safety systems aim to prevent crashes, Dharsan and Eshel believe that Project Rebirth is pioneering a new approach by focusing on enhancing survival outcomes in the unfortunate event of a crash, ultimately preparing for worst-case scenarios when all other measures fail.
The technical feasibility of Project Rebirth is yet to be determined, with the national winners of the James Dyson Awards already announced. This annual design competition, open to university-level students and recent graduates, will unveil the global winner on November 5, who will receive a £30,000 award to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey.
