**IIT Delhi Collaborates with Indian Air Force Nagpur to Advance Aviation Textiles**
*New Delhi:* The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Headquarters Maintenance (HQ) Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Nagpur. This collaboration aims to advance innovative technologies in the field of aviation textiles.
Under the terms of the MoU, IIT Delhi and HQ Maintenance, IAF Nagpur, will work together to support research and development focused on aviation-grade textiles. The partnership emphasizes self-reliance, obsolescence management, upgrades, and digitization through indigenization.
Key representatives present at the signing included Professor R. Alagirusamy, Head of the Textile and Fibre Engineering Department at IIT Delhi; Professor Bipin Kumar, Project Coordinator at 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.
### Areas of Collaboration
Group Captain Prashant Pathak, Commanding Officer 16 BRD, AF, outlined several areas of focus for this cooperation:
– **Raw Material Selection:** Identification and selection of suitable textiles and fabrics for various parachutes and safety equipment.
– **Development of Testing Technologies:** Creating modern technologies and equipment for technical textile testing, incorporating the latest standards into product designs related to parachutes and safety gear.
– **AI and Robotics Integration:** Implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and imaging technologies for quality assurance checks of raw textile materials and finished products.
– **Machine Learning-Based Imaging:** Innovating imaging technologies using machine learning to inspect finished products, such as pilot parachutes, brake parachutes, cargo parachute canopies, harnesses, and crew restraint systems returned from field units for repair.
– **Design and Reliability Studies:** Engaging in design, development, reliability assessments, simulation, and life extension studies of parachutes and their associated accessories.
### Significance of the Collaboration
Professor Rajendra Singh, Associate Dean of Research & Development at IIT Delhi, emphasized the importance of this partnership in response to the growing demand for indigenization within the Indian defense sector. He highlighted the potential to harness IIT Delhi’s cutting-edge research alongside the Indian Air Force’s practical experience to develop novel textile solutions tailored for aviation applications.
According to Professor Bipin Kumar, Project Coordinator from the Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering at IIT Delhi, this collaboration is expected to contribute significantly to India’s defense technological self-reliance.
This partnership marks a progressive step toward strengthening indigenous capabilities in advanced aviation textiles, aligning with India’s broader goals of self-sufficiency in defense technology.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/iit-delhi-iaf-join-hands-for-ai-powered-research-on-technical-textiles-know-more-here
