Artificial intelligence and automation in aerospace
Aviation’s role in global climate discussions – across forums such as COP30, the G7 and the G20 – has grown increasingly prominent. As a result, the aviation and aerospace sectors are under mounting pressure to reduce their environmental footprint. In response, a range of global targets and frameworks have been established to guide this transformation.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has set an ambitious long-term goal: achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Aviation is a competitive technical field with a lot of innovation and investment. For example, companies may invest in advances in aircraft design, propulsion, efficiencies in the operation of aircraft and reductions in waste and/or energy infrastructure. While such innovations may traditionally have been motivated purely to obtain business advantages, now efforts in these areas are expected to support reducing carbon emissions to meet environmental targets.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to radically transform many industries. In AI, there is great potential for intelligent predictions and problem solving which may otherwise seem unachievable. In this article, we explore intellectual property data since 2000 to uncover how AI has been driving green innovation across the aviation and aerospace industries.
Like with any revolutionary tool, those who are quick to leverage its advantages will have a significant head start. We’ve observed a tangible surge in AI-driven innovation – one that’s reshaping core systems, accelerating sustainability efforts and redefining how aerospace challenges are solved.
Figure 1: twenty-five year trend (1999-2023) - global first patent priority filings – summary - green aviation and AI
The data in Figure 1 – obtained by searching for certain key words in patent applications – shows priority filings (i.e. filings which have given rise to subsequent patent filings claiming priority from said patent priority filings). Our search restrictions required terms relating to AI, aviation (or an appropriate patent classification), and green innovation. There are, of course, limitations to this approach such as omission of relevant filings which do not use the searched terms, changes in the way terms are used over time, etc. Nevertheless, it provided a reasonable strategy for a qualitative review.
There was a notable surge in filings around 2016, which was the year Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeated a human world champion in the game of Go. It’s possible that the acceleration in green aviation filings involving AI from 2016 was because AI technologies had advanced enough (as signified by the AlphaGo victory over its human opponent) to find new applications or to solve problems not feasibly addressed by previous, less advanced forms of the technology.
In 2020, filings dipped slightly, likely reflecting the impact of COVID-19, which (literally) grounded much of the aviation sector. Nonetheless filings remained higher than any year prior to 2019, suggesting that innovation in this technical area proved resilient. As illustrated, filings rebounded in the years following the pandemic, returning to their upward trajectory.
Figure 2: twenty-five year trend (1999-2023) - global priority filings by jurisdiction - green aviation
Figure 2 above shows priority filings by jurisdiction, revealing a dynamic and shifting landscape in green aviation innovation. The United States has consistently led in total filings, with a peak in 2019. However, its post-pandemic trajectory seems somewhat flat, providing an opportunity for competing jurisdictions to catch up. We speculate that economic factors surrounding the pandemic caused this stagnation rather than factors relating to significant, green energy-related policy changes in the US, which are too recent to appear in this data.
India’s rise is particularly striking. From virtually no filings in the early 2000s, it has surged dramatically towards a peak in 2023, more than doubling its 2022 figure and overtaking all other jurisdictions. This sharp increase suggests a deliberate focus in AI-driven sustainability, which may be tied to initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, which aims to boost technological self-reliance. The data positions India as a rapidly emerging leader in next-generation aerospace innovation.
South Korea also shows a notable upward trend. After modest activity in the early years, filings increased steadily from 2016, peaking in 2022. This indicates that South Korea may have intensified its innovation efforts during the pandemic period, particularly in green AI technologies, has building on the upward momentum from 2017.
While US filings remain in the lead, South Korea and especially India seem to have rocketed past Europe. Overall, the data reveals a realignment of innovation leadership. While the US and Europe were dominant in earlier years, India and South Korea are now reshaping the global innovation landscape in AI-driven sustainable aviation.
India and South Korea are now reshaping the global innovation landscape in AI-driven sustainable aviation.
Figure 3: twenty-five year trend (1999-2023) - global priority filings by assignee - green aviation
Figure 3 above illustrates the key players (i.e., companies/multi-nationals) in this field. Boeing stands out as the dominant force. Its consistent activity across two decades underscores its deep and sustained investment in aerospace research and development (R&D).
Other US-based companies, Honeywell and General Electric (GE), also show strong contributions over the total time period. Honeywell peaked in 2015, while GE reached its highest in 2014. The data reinforces the long-standing leadership of US-based companies in aerospace innovation.
In Europe, Airbus and Thales have maintained a prominent and consistent presence in green aviation innovation. Airbus is second only to Boeing in total filings, with its peak activity in 2019. This reflects its central role in leveraging AI for the purpose of green innovation in aviation.
Thales, known for its expertise in avionics, in-flight entertainment and air traffic management solutions, is a leading partner to the larger aircraft manufacturers. Thales contributes to certain key areas for improving operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Together, Airbus and Thales exemplify Europe’s long-term commitment to innovation in both the structural and digital dimensions of sustainable aviation.
SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., a Chinese entrant founded in 2006, has made a remarkable impact in a relatively short time. As a young company in a field dominated by legacy aerospace giants, DJI seems to have bided its time, perhaps building its technological capabilities and establishing a robust R&D pipeline, before entering the patent landscape. Yet, by 2014 – just eight years after its founding – it began filing patents consistently, and by 2018 had reached a peak. This trajectory is impressive, especially considering that DJI has already broken into the top seven assignees in terms of total filings.
DJI’s rise exemplifies how agile, tech-first disruptors can successfully penetrate and influence a highly competitive space. Its focus on autonomous systems and UAV technologies has allowed it to carve out a niche in green aviation innovation, particularly in areas like environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection and aerial intelligence. The company’s rapid ascent underscores the shifting dynamics of aerospace innovation, where speed and adaptability are increasingly critical to success.
Safran, a French multinational aerospace and defence company, has also made a meaningful contribution to green aviation innovation. According to the data, Safran seems to demonstrate consistency in developing sustainable technologies. The company specialises in aircraft propulsion, landing gear, avionics, interiors and is a key supplier to both commercial and military aviation sectors.
Safran’s innovation efforts often focus on improving fuel efficiency, reducing emissions and advancing hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Its presence in the patent landscape reflects a strategic commitment to sustainability, particularly through its work on next-generation engines and lightweight materials. While its filing volumes are more modest compared to giants like Boeing or Airbus, Safran’s contributions are technically significant and aligned with broader industry goals of decarbonisation and operational efficiency.
In this context, Safran adds depth to the innovation ecosystem; not as a disruptor but as a steady contributor with deep engineering expertise and a clear focus on sustainable aviation technologies
The data shows that Boeing, Honeywell, GE, Airbus and Thales continue to lead in filings, reinforcing their long-term strategic investments. However, the rise of DJI signals a shift toward more agile, AI-native innovation models, suggesting that the future of aerospace may be shaped as much by disruptors as by legacy giants.
Figure 4: twenty-five year trend (1999-2023) - global priority filings by IPC category - green aviation
Figure 4 highlights the top 10 International Patent Classification (IPC) subclasses driving aerospace-AI innovation through a sustainability lens. The distribution reveals a strategic concentration across three core domains: aircraft onboard systems, control of non-electric variables and computational models. These categories form the backbone of green aviation, where AI is being actively deployed to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and environmental performance.
The leading IPC subclasses are:
- B64C – Aeroplanes and helicopters
- B64D – Aircraft fittings and onboard systems
- G06F – Electrical digital data processing
- G06Q – ICT systems for administrative and operational functions
- G06N – Computational models, including neural networks and fuzzy logic
- G05D – Control of non-electric variables (e.g., altitude, speed, pressure)
- G08G – Traffic control systems
- G01S – Radio navigation technologies
- G01C – General navigation and route planning
- H04L – Digital communication protocols and secure data transmission
Perhaps unsurprisingly, B64C (Aeroplanes and helicopters) leads with 4,135 filings between 1999 and 2023, followed closely by G06F (Electrical digital data processing) (3,811), and G06Q (ICT systems for administrative and operational functions) (3,355) – a trio that reflects the convergence of aerospace engineering and intelligent digital systems. B64D (Aircraft fittings and onboard systems) also ranks high with 3,175 filings, underscoring the importance of onboard integration in AI-enhanced aviation.
The most recent activity reflected by the data shows the strongest upward trends in B64D (Aircraft fittings and onboard systems), G06Q (ICT systems for administrative and operational functions), G06N (Computational models, including neural networks and fuzzy logic), G06F (Electrical digital data processing), and G05D (Control of non-electric variables (e.g., altitude, speed, pressure)). Accordingly, these are the areas where AI is finding more applications in the context of green technologies.
A notable trend is the rapid emergence of G06N (Computational models, including neural networks and fuzzy logic). This IPC classification was only introduced in the Eighth Edition of the International Patent Classification (IPC) published in 2006 and yet has risen to a total of 1,541 applications over the period since its implementation to be in the top ten with classifications that have been around far longer. This steep trajectory signals a strategic shift toward embedding AI frameworks – such as neural networks and fuzzy logic – into aerospace systems. G06N’s (Computational models, including neural networks and fuzzy logic) rise reflects the infusion of entirely new capabilities, enabling predictive diagnostics, adaptive control and autonomous decision-making in increasingly complex flight environments.
Meanwhile, control and navigation technologies show strong innovation momentum, with G05D (Control of non-electric variables (e.g., altitude, speed, pressure), G08G (Traffic control systems), G01S (Radio navigation technologies), and G01C (General navigation and route planning) collectively accounting for over 8,000 filings. These subclasses represent foundational aviation systems – flight regulation, traffic coordination and spatial navigation.
The rise of G06N (Computational models, including neural networks and fuzzy logic) exemplifies how new computational capabilities are being leveraged, likely to make intelligent predictions to enhance the function of aerial vehicles.
Conclusion
The data confirms that AI is no longer a peripheral concept in aerospace – it has become a core driver of innovation. The data shows an acceleration in priority patent filings in the field of AI-powered, green aviation innovations.
The landscape seems to be shifting in terms of the territories where organisations are making priority filings. While the US and Europe have dominated historically, India and South Korea seem to have made significant gains in the last few years.
In terms of technologies, the strongest upward trends in patent activity are in subclasses like B64D (Aircraft fittings and onboard systems), G06Q (ICT systems for administrative and operational functions), G06N (Computational models, including neural networks and fuzzy logic), G06F (Electrical digital data processing), and G05D (Control of non-electric variables (e.g., altitude, speed, pressure), closely followed by G08G (Traffic control systems). These are not merely speculative trajectories; they seem to represent a tangible shift in how aircraft are flown, monitored and maintained – powered by AI.
The pace and nature of filings suggest that radical innovation may increasingly come from agile entrants, rather than legacy aerospace incumbents, which nevertheless remain the largest innovators. The rise of SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd as a major player indicates abundant innovation in the field of UAVs.
Clearly the aerospace sector isn’t just adapting to AI, it’s evolving by using and leveraging it.
Ali Dumigan Associate and Patent Attorney
Tegan Wollaston Trainee Patent Attorney
Adam Tindall Partner and Patent Attorney