AI leading to decarbonisation gains

Above: Twenty-five-year trend (1999-2023) – global first patent priority filings – green aviation and AI.
Courtesy Appleyard Lees
 
This is one of the findings in the fifth annual edition of the now-published Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report from the intellectual property firm.
 
Research estimates that global patent filings in this area of innovation have risen from 254 in 2019 to 307 in 2023 – though this increase is less than the 85% increase in the previous half-decade (from 108 in 2013 to 202 in 2017).
 
Appleyard Lees’ Adam Tindall, UK and European Patent Attorney, said: “Innovations in areas such as aircraft design, propulsion, operational efficiencies and reductions in waste and energy infrastructure – traditionally aimed at achieving business advantage – are now expected also to reduce carbon emissions and meet environmental targets.”
 
“As part of this, AI-driven innovation is showing a tangible surge in aviation and aerospace and redefining how organisations are addressing the industries’ challenges.”
 
AI takes off as enabler of innovation  
The most recent patent data revealed in the report shows the most significant developments in aircraft fittings and onboard systems, ICT systems for administrative and operational functions, computational models including neural networks and fuzzy logic, electrical digital data processing and control of variables such as altitude, speed and pressure. 
 
Notably, since its incorporation as a patent classification in 2006, patent activity in AI-related computational models including neural networks and fuzzy logic have increased to 1,541 by 2023 – reflecting entirely new capabilities such as predictive diagnostics, adaptive control and autonomous decision making.
 
Other areas such as controlling altitude, speed and pressure, traffic control, radio navigation and general navigation and route planning are also experiencing innovation momentum and show a focus on fundamental aviation systems including flight regulation, traffic coordination and spatial navigation.
 
Companies and countries
According to the data, Boeing remains the leading player in green aerospace research and development, with more patent filings than any other company over almost a decade. Other US companies, Honeywell and General Electric (GE), have also shown high levels of innovative activity. Meanwhile innovation by Airbus and Thales has taken flight among European companies, while French company Safran has made technically significant advances in fuel efficiency, emissions reduction and hybrid-electric propulsion systems.
 
However, the data shows that – in terms of advancing green innovation – newer and more disruptive industry entrants can have even greater impact than the most established organisations. For example, the not-yet-20-year-old Chinese company SZ DJI Technology is now among the top seven companies by patent filing numbers, focusing on environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection and aerial intelligence technologies.
 
Ali Dumigan, UK and European Patent Attorney at Appleyard Lees, added: “Our research shows that trends in the use of AI for developing aviation and aerospace technologies indicate a significant shift in the way aircraft are flown, monitored and maintained.”
 
Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report – Fifth Edition, examines patent filing data through 31 Dec 2023, the latest date complete filing data is available from public sources.