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Technology Developed at the Dubai Campus of BITS Pilani Detects Imminent Falls and Activates Airbags in Two Seconds to Protect Occupants
A team of engineers at the Dubai campus of BITS Pilani has revealed Project REBIRTH, a survival system for plane accidents that uses artificial intelligence technology to protect passengers in situations of unavoidable descent.
The proposal combines sensors and AI software to detect risks and activate external airbags around the aircraft, aiming to reduce the impact of abrupt landings.
How The System Works
REBIRTH constantly analyzes the engine state, direction, speed, altitude, temperature, and pilot activity. When it detects that a collision is inevitable, it activates airbags located at the nose, belly, and tail in less than two seconds.
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These airbags are made up of layers of Kevlar, TPU, Zylon, and non-Newtonian fluids, which absorb the impact and reduce damage to the structure and passengers.
If the engines are still functioning, the system activates reverse thrust to slow down the aircraft. In case of total failure, small gas thrusters come into action to reduce speed and stabilize the plane.
After a forced landing, REBIRTH releases bright orange paint, infrared signal devices, GPS, and flashing lights to assist rescue teams.
Automatic Activation and Manual Control
The system is automatically activated whenever the aircraft is at an altitude of less than 910 meters and there is an imminent risk of a fall. However, the pilots have the option to deactivate it manually if deemed necessary.
“It prepares for the worst when everything else fails,” said the project’s creators, engineers Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan.
Prototype and Planned Testing
The team built a 1:12 scale prototype, equipped with sensors, microcontrollers, and CO2 cylinders controlled by AI. The system responds to changes in speed, vibration, and force, activating safety measures in sequence.
Computational simulations indicate that the concept can reduce collision impact by over 60%.
Now, the engineers plan to work with aircraft manufacturers and laboratories to test full-size versions in wind tunnels and collision simulations.
They intend to make the system compatible with both new aircraft and models already in operation.
A Concept Born From a Tragedy
The idea emerged after a fatal accident involving Air India earlier this year. The aircraft lost power seconds after takeoff, killing all passengers except one.
“My mother couldn’t sleep,” Wasim reported. “She couldn’t stop thinking about the fear that passengers and pilots must have felt, knowing there was no way out.”
This feeling of helplessness drove the development of REBIRTH, focusing on three main objectives: slowing down the aircraft before impact, absorbing the forces of collision, and allowing rescuers to reach the site quickly.
Challenges and Recognition
Despite the potential, experts warn that the extra weight and complexity of the airbags could pose obstacles to adoption.
If it wins the James Dyson Award 2025, the project will receive US$ 40,000 and join previous innovative creations, such as wearable biomedical devices for glaucoma testing and off-road trailers for transporting injured soldiers.
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