In the wake of recent airplane accidents, including the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 that claimed 260 lives, concerns over air travel safety have intensified. Responding to this need, engineers Darshan and Eshel Wasim from the Dubai campus of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani have developed Project Rebirth, an AI-powered crash survival system designed to protect passengers using high-speed airbags. The project, which has reached the finals of the James Dyson Award, is being hailed as the world’s first AI-driven safety system specifically aimed at improving passenger survivability in aviation accidents.
Project Rebirth’s AI system continuously monitors flight parameters such as altitude, speed, engine performance, fire hazards, and pilot responses. In the event of an imminent emergency, the system can autonomously activate, while still allowing pilot intervention. When triggered at altitudes above 3,000 feet, airbags deploy within two seconds across the front, middle, and tail sections of the aircraft, creating a protective cushion by the time the plane reaches the ground. This technology is designed to significantly reduce the risk of injury during a crash, offering a novel layer of protection for passengers.
The engineers noted that Project Rebirth could be adapted for both existing aircraft and new planes, with further testing planned in collaboration with aerospace laboratories. While conventional aviation safety systems primarily focus on preventing crashes, Project Rebirth addresses the critical need for survivability in the event of an accident. By activating when traditional measures fail, the system aims to give passengers a greater chance of emerging safely, potentially transforming standards for aviation safety worldwide.