Every time an aircraft takes off, thousands of structural components must work perfectly under stress, vibration and changing temperatures. Ensuring that these structures remain safe for decades is one of the greatest challenges in aviation. The COST Action Optimising Design for Inspection (ODIN) decided to rethink this challenge from the very beginning.

Instead of asking how aircraft should be inspected after they are built, ODIN focused on embedding inspection into the design itself. The idea is similar to the human nervous system. Just as your body feels pain and reacts early, ODIN worked on aircraft structures that can ‘feel’ damage and report it before it becomes serious.

As Action Chair, Dr Rhys Pullin, from Cardiff University, explains:

“Much like the human body’s nervous system, these ‘built-in senses’ will provide real-time updates on the health and safety of the aircraft. They’ll also help the plane automatically adjust its shape to improve fuel efficiency, make the ride smoother, and ensure everything is running at its best.”

See the full article here.