TLDR: Project Rebirth, a concept by Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan, proposes an innovative AI-powered system featuring external airbags designed to deploy automatically during an impending airplane crash. This system aims to significantly improve passenger safety by absorbing impact and aiding rescue efforts, and is currently an entry for The James Dyson Award 2025.
A groundbreaking concept named ‘Project Rebirth’ is set to revolutionize aviation safety with its proposal of an artificial intelligence-powered airplane crash survival system. Developed by Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan from BITS Pilani (Dubai), the system integrates inflating external airbags to mitigate the severity of impacts during emergency landings or crashes.
The core of Project Rebirth lies in its sophisticated AI software, which, coupled with an array of sensors, continuously monitors critical flight parameters. These include engine status, direction, speed, altitude, temperature, and pilot activity. The system is designed to detect and predict an unavoidable crash scenario. Should a crash be deemed imminent and the aircraft’s altitude fall below 3,000 feet, the AI automatically triggers the deployment of the external airbags. Pilots retain the ability to manually override the system if necessary.
The survival mechanism involves a set of high-speed, multi-layered airbags strategically placed at the front, bottom, and rear of the aircraft. These robust materials are engineered to deploy in under two seconds, providing a crucial buffer to absorb impact forces and minimize damage to both the aircraft structure and, more importantly, the occupants inside. In a scenario where engines are still operational, the system activates reverse thrust to decelerate the aircraft. If engine power is lost, gas thrusters are engaged to reduce speed and stabilize the plane during its descent.
Beyond the immediate impact absorption, Project Rebirth also incorporates comprehensive rescue aid features. The aircraft’s shell would be painted in a bright orange hue, and equipped with infrared beacons, GPS devices, and flashing lights. These elements are intended to make crash sites easily discoverable, thereby accelerating the response time of rescue teams.
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Project Rebirth has garnered attention as an entry for The James Dyson Award 2025, highlighting its innovative approach to a critical safety challenge. The developers have prepared extensive data, results, and designs, with ambitious plans to collaborate with airplane manufacturers and laboratories. Their goal is to construct full-size models and conduct rigorous testing through wind tunnel experiments and crash simulations. A key advantage of this proposed system is its versatility; it is designed to be compatible with both new aircraft designs and existing planes, allowing airlines to retrofit the system onto their current fleets.
