Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, yesterday launched Percept, an advanced AI-based Aircraft Engine Analysis Tool.
Percept is a computer vision product that operates on top of the Awiros Video Intelligence Operating System (OS). Its cloud-based interface allows users to capture images and videos of aircraft engines on their mobile devices and receive real-time responses on parts availability. This helps enable faster and cost-efficient turnaround of leased engine assets. Instead of an inspector having to examine an engine and check part-by-part, Percept automates this inspection, and reduces time taken by nearly 90%, according to the company.
According to O Sung Kwon, vice president of customer support at Pratt & Whitney, the new tool reduces the time and effort involved in the pre-and-post lease analysis of aircraft engines. Kwon says Pratt & Whitney has been working with Indian computer vision and AI start-up Awiros for the past few years to mature the technology.
Awiros was selected as the winner of the RTX Innovation Challenge, an innovation challenge launched in September 2019. More than 60 teams proposed solutions to optimize and automate aircraft engine inspections with reduced human interventions. Awiros' idea was evaluated through 2020-21 and is expected to be launched commercially later this year.
The Percept solution will be deployed exclusively on Pratt & Whitney's most advanced commercial engines, including the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine and the V2500.
Th Pratt & Whitney and Awiros team using the Percept tool to scan a V2500 engine.
