AI-powered tech puts aircraft maintenance into field of vision

AugmentAero’s technology is designed to provide engineers with immediate access to information through augmented reality overlays viewed through ‘smart’ safety glasses. This will allow them to access data hands-free, streamlining tasks including manual referencing, real-time diagnostics, remote assist, and aircraft inspections.

“It’s about giving [engineers] instant access to critical information in a streamlined and user-friendly way,” said company founder Elaine Harding.

She added that this eliminates the need to leave a workstation, remove safety gear, and consult a computer, a process that can take over 30 minutes. By streamlining this process, the technology has the potential to save significant time, which can translate into millions of pounds in savings.

The system also addresses safety concerns. For example, it can detect potential errors, such as mismatched pressure specifications for landing gear and tires, and alert engineers in real time.

Harding said her company’s software if ‘fairly hardware agnostic’, adding that it works with Apple vision Pro.

“Then you've then got the Meta Orion… due for release in 2027,” she said.

According to Harding, Meta co-founder Mark Zuckerberg plans to focus on spatial computing for the next 12 years.

“So we are part of that ecosystem, as opposed to trying to compete with those big guys. They need people like us to develop the enterprise solutions, and we are focused on B2B in engineering.”

The technology, currently at Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL 7), is expected to reach the market early next year. Part of the company’s roadmap includes features to attract younger engineers through gamified interfaces.

In October AugmentAero was awarded Innovative Tech of the Year at the South Coast Tech and Innovation Awards 2024. Looking forward, Harding said the company will accelerate growth ‘on the VC tech startup journey… and run as fast as we can for the next five to seven years’.

To date, Southampton-based AugmentAero has received a £1.2m Innovate UK grant to support its development and is in discussions with ‘several major airlines’.