IIT Delhi, IAF Collaborate on AI-driven Research for Advanced Parachutes and Safety Gear

IIT Delhi and IAF have partnered to collaborate on R&D in aviation-grade textiles, focusing on obsolescence management, self-reliance, upgrades, and digitisation through indigenisation. Know details here

IIT Delhi, IAF Collaborate on AI-driven Research

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Headquarters Maintenance Command of the Indian Air Force, Nagpur, to collaborate on advancing innovative technologies for aviation textiles. Through this MoU, IIT Delhi and IAF Maintenance Command will jointly promote research and development in areas such as obsolescence management, self-reliance, upgrades, and digitisation through indigenisation in aviation-grade textiles.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi, and Group Captain Prashant Pathak (Commanding Officer 16 BRD, AF) in the presence of Prof. R. Alagirusamy, HoD, Textile and Fibre Engg. Dept., IIT Delhi, and Prof. Bipin Kumar, Project Coordinator, IIT Delhi, Group Captain Asit Kumar (Chief of Planning & Production 16 BRD, AF) and Wing Commander Arun Manohar (Chief of Quality Assurance 16 BRD, AF).

According to Group Captain Prashant Pathak, Commanding Officer 16 BRD, AF, some of the areas of interest for collaboration include:

• Raw material selection (textile/fabric) for various parachutes and safety equipment. 
• Development of modern technologies/ equipment for technical textile/ fabric testing and the latest standards available for incorporation into product designs related to parachutes and safety equipment.
• Implementing AI/ Robotics or imaging technologies for quality acceptance checks of textile/ fabric raw material/ finished products.
• Innovate Machine Learning Imaging Technology of finished products such as pilot parachute/ brake parachute or cargo parachute canopies, associated harness and crew restraint systems etc. received from the field units for repair.
• Design and development, reliability studies, simulation studies, life extension studies of parachutes and associated accessories.

Prof. Rajendra Singh, Associate Dean, R&D, IIT Delhi, emphasised the importance of this partnership in addressing the Indian defence sector's growing demand for indigenization. He highlighted the potential to leverage IIT Delhi's advanced research and IAF's practical expertise to develop innovative solutions for a wide range of aviation-grade textile products.

Prof. Bipin Kumar, Project Coordinator from the Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, IIT Delhi said the partnership between IIT Delhi and HQ Maintenance, IAF Nagpur, is expected to contribute to India's self-reliance in defence technology.

Read More

• Dr. Jitendra Singh Announces Establishment of Four Thematic Hubs at IISc, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, and IIT Delhi
• IIT Bombay Introduces Executive Post-Graduate Diploma to Shape Future Leaders in AI & Data Science