Borescope Artificial Intelligence (BAI)

Borescope inspection is a critical tool in the engine maintenance toolbox for identifying defects. The process of borescope inspection is labor intensive and the training required to become proficient in borescope inspection is difficult. A borescope enhanced with an artificially intelligent computer vision capability would revolutionize how engines are maintained and lead to an increased defect capture rate in less maintenance time; keeping engines on wing longer with more confidence in their health.

Every major aircraft operator from civil to DoD utilizes engine borescope to troubleshoot engines. By training a deep learning model with the NASA dataset a borescope enhanced with artificial intelligence would revolutionize on wing engine troubleshooting and maintenance. This results in an opportunity for machine learning supported inspection processes to offload part of the work from the maintainer and to allow less experienced technicians to perform the inspection with equal or better defect capture rates.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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