Led by Professor Zahra Sharif Khodaei, the research project, AVATAR, has earned two prestigious honours at the annual NTT Awards in Tokyo.

The collaborative AVATAR (Digital Twin for Transformative Air Vehicle with IoT sensors Towards Safer Skies) research project, with Imperial College London as technical lead, has achieved significant recognition at the esteemed annual Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) Awards. These awards highlight the project’s commitment to sustainability and strategic innovation in the field of aeronautics.

The project has developed a smart skin that allows advanced sensors to be embedded across an aircraft for continuous monitoring – a transition from scheduled maintenance to condition-based maintenance (CBM). This shift allows for the early detection of minor damages, not only from a safety perspective, but also so that aeroplanes are only grounded for repairs, when necessary.

With early damage detection, engineers can adopt a more lenient approach to aircraft design for damage tolerance. As a result, this enables design of lighter aircraft structures, with reduced fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions.

Data collected from the sensors are integrated into digital twins, with secure cloud-based protocols for robust data handling and storage. Digital twins allow for real-time diagnosis and prognosis, enabling innovative air vehicle design and extending applications to transformative digital aviation technologies and Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Professor Zahra Sharif Khodaei, Professor in Aerospace Structural Durability and Health Monitoring at Imperial College London said: "We’ve been working on the concept of structural health monitoring for aeronautic structures for more than a decade now. Condition based maintenance and digital twins will enable the efficient operation of an aircraft."

NTT Group Sustainability Conference Excellence Award

The ‘Group Sustainability Conference Excellence’ award celebrates AVATAR’s exceptional efforts in integrating eco-friendly practices and solutions into its core operations. The project’s advancements in CBM and Digital Twin technologies have set a new standard for environmental preservation in the aviation industry. By enabling more efficient maintenance practices, and reducing the need for routine inspections, AVATAR significantly lowers fuel consumption, and consequently carbon emissions.

NTT DATA Mid-Term Management Plan Award

The second award acknowledges the strategic foresight and effective execution of AVATAR’s mid-term management plan. By aligning strategies with long-term goals, the project has demonstrated an exemplary model of how technological innovation can drive sustainability. The project curates value by connecting people with technology, fostering a sustainable future for the aviation sector.

Watch a summary video about the project.

Department of Aeronautics academics Professor Zahra Sharif Khodaei and Professor Ferri Aliabadi serve as Technical Lead and Co-investigator respectively for AVATAR. Both have provided significant contribution to the proposal that led to achieving the awards. 

The project brings together expertise across industry (Evektor, Nordic Wing, NTT), academia (Imperial College London, Loughborough University, University of Luxembourg) and industry (Danish Technological Institute).