Project rebirth uses Inflatables to survive airplane crash
Project Rebirth introduces the idea of an AI-powered airplane crash survival system that uses inflating external airbags to reduce impact during abrupt landing. A concept by Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan from BITS Pilani (Dubai), it works by using sensors and AI software, which can detect when a crash is going to happen.
If the system predicts that the crash cannot be stopped, and if the aircraft is flying below 3,000 feet, it activates the system automatically, wrapping the aircraft with inflating external airbags (pilots can also stop the system manually if needed). The system, which appears on The James Dyson Award 2025 entries, also monitors engine status, direction, speed, altitude, temperature, and pilot activity before it makes the decision on its own.
all images courtesy of Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan via The James Dyson Award
GPS devices and flashing lights around aircraft for rescue teams
The team’s idea employs a set of high-speed airbags placed at the front, bottom, and back of the aircraft. These multi-layered materials are dubbed to deploy in under two seconds and absorb impact and reduce damage to the aircraft and people on board. If the engines are still working, the reverse thrust feature is activated, which slows the aircraft down before it hits the ground.
If the engines aren’t working, gas thrusters get triggered to reduce the aircraft’s speed and stabilize it during landing. The last part of the system, which forms part of The James Dyson Award 2025 entries, is the rescue aid. Here, Project Rebirth suggests painting the aircraft’s shell with bright orange and equipping the vehicle with infrared beacons, GPS devices, and flashing lights for the airplane crash survival system. These make the crash site easy to find, allowing the rescue teams to get to the site faster.
the idea of the AI airplane crash survival system uses inflating external airbags to reduce impact
Design team builds the Prototype of the AI software
The design of Project Rebirth is based on three goals: slowing down the aircraft before it hits the ground, absorbing the force of the crash, and helping rescuers arrive quickly. The team from BITS Pilani, Dubai campus, has studied existing systems used in planes and the military and looked at crash reports and scientific materials like Kevlar, TPU, Zylon, and smart fluids. From here, the AI airplane crash survival system has emerged. So far, a small prototype of the system has already been built, which uses sensors, carbon dioxide canisters, and microcontrollers. The AI software controls all the safety parts for Project Rebirth’s airplane crash survival system.
It reads changes in speed, force, and vibration, then it starts the safety actions in order. The team has already tested the system in computer simulations, with results showing a reduced impact by more than 60 percent. They’ve also prepared data, results, and designs, with a plan to work with airplane manufacturers and labs to build full-size models and test the project in wind tunnels and crash simulations. The team adds that Project REBIRTH is made to work in both new and old airplanes as a crash survival system and that airlines can install the system on planes already in service. So far, Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan’s AI airplane crash survival system named Project Rebirth appears among The James Dyson Award 2025 entries.
view of the system automatically wrapping the aircraft with inflating external airbags
so far, Project Rebirth appears among The James Dyson Award 2025 entries
project info:
name: Project Rebirth
design: Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan
institution: BITS Pilani, Dubai campus | @bitspilaniofficial
entry: James Dyson Award 2025 | @jamesdysonaward
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