When, a tissue is damaged, it sends neural signals to the brains and the neurotransmitters help us to receive the message. The brain perceives this information as pain and we act accordingly, maybe apply balm or take a pain killer. What if planes could perceive damage to their body and let the technicians also know about it? Scientists in U.K, being inspired by the self healing powers of plants and animals, have developed a new technology that might help a plane to detect damages and even fix themselves while on the fly. The planes themselves could help the technicians to point out tiny holes to mechanics upon landing.
Embedded circulatory systems, which consist of epoxy resin that bleeds into holes and cracks and then light up or fluoresce under UV light, would be installed in the future generations of planes, win turbines and even space crafts. This is possible because most plane manufacturers use polymers as the outer skin. This could be a major leap towards aircraft safety, though, at this stage, may not be a very marketable idea. Scientists expect the technology to materialize on aircrafts in 5 to 10 years.
Via: msnbc
