KEY POINTS
- Students have developed ‘Project REBIRTH’, an AI-driven crash survival system for airplanes.
- The system uses external airbags and AI monitoring to protect passengers during crashes.
- The students created a prototype that simulates real-time crash scenarios, showing a 60% reduction in impact.
ISLAMABAD: A team of engineers from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani, Dubai Campus, has developed Project REBIRTH, a futuristic, AI-driven airplane crash survival system designed to protect passengers during otherwise unsurvivable crashes.
Created by Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan, the system deploys external airbags around the aircraft in the event of an imminent crash, absorbing impact forces during abrupt or emergency landings.
The AI continuously monitors multiple flight parameters, including engine status, speed, altitude, and pilot activity, and automatically activates the system when the aircraft descends below 3,000 feet in a high-risk scenario. Pilots also retain the ability to override the system if needed.
“It prepares for the worst when all else fails,” the engineers said.
How REBIRTH Works
In critical moments, airbags made from Kevlar, Zylon, TPU, and smart non-Newtonian fluids deploy from the nose, belly, and tail of the aircraft in under two seconds. These materials are engineered to absorb extreme forces, significantly reducing the impact on both the aircraft and its occupants.
The system is also smart enough to respond differently depending on engine status: if engines are working, it activates reverse thrust to decelerate; if they fail, gas thrusters stabilize and slow the aircraft.
After landing, infrared beacons, GPS, bright orange paint, and flashing emergency lights guide rescue teams to the crash site rapidly.
Born from Tragedy
The idea for REBIRTH was sparked by a tragic Air India crash earlier this year, in which nearly all passengers perished after the plane lost power moments after takeoff.
“My mother couldn’t sleep,” said Wasim, recalling the emotional aftermath that motivated him to pursue a solution.
Prototype and Future Plans
The team has constructed a 1:12 scale prototype, integrating AI software, microcontrollers, and carbon dioxide canisters to simulate real-time crash scenarios. According to computer simulations, the system can reduce crash impact by over 60%.
With schematics, materials data, and simulation results ready, the engineers are now seeking collaborations with aircraft manufacturers and testing labs to build and assess full-scale prototypes in wind tunnels and crash simulations.
Notably, the system is being designed for compatibility with both new aircraft and retrofitting into existing fleets.
Expert Opinion: A Mixed Reaction
While many have praised the innovation, some experts remain skeptical. Jeff Edwards, a retired US Navy bombardier and aviation safety consultant, told Popular Science:
“This sounds like an interesting idea, BUT airline disasters that this airbag system is intended to mitigate would mean that future aircraft would all be carrying the additional weight and other compromises to mitigate one accident in 20 years.”
Despite the criticism, Wasim and Srinivasan remain determined to refine the concept. “If it saves even one life, it’s worth the effort,” they say.
With Project REBIRTH, these students are challenging aviation norms and reminding the world that innovation often begins where tragedy leaves its mark.
