SOURCE: AFI
NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (NewSpace), in collaboration with the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) of DRDO, Bangalore, has achieved a significant breakthrough. They have successfully developed an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme.
The project, titled “Autonomous Drone as First Responder for Search and Report Operations in Enclosed/Indoor Environments,” focused on creating a UAV capable of navigating and exploring indoor environments with complete autonomy. This innovative drone can even operate under challenging conditions, including complete darkness.
NewSpace’s CEO, Mr. Sameer Joshi, acknowledged the crucial role played by CAIR in achieving this milestone. He expressed enthusiasm for exploring further applications of this groundbreaking technology.
Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, congratulated both NewSpace and the industry as a whole. He highlighted this project’s success as a testament to DRDO’s TDF initiative, fostering industry growth and aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India).
Broad Spectrum of Applications
This successful project opens doors to a wide range of potential applications for the autonomous UAV. These include:
- Search and rescue operations in disaster zones or collapsed buildings
- Enhanced surveillance capabilities for security purposes
- Conducting inspections in hazardous or hard-to-reach industrial areas
- Environmental monitoring in sensitive or remote locations
- Safe exploration of environments deemed risky for humans