DRDO's Ghatak Combat Drone Programme Gathers Pace; 60 Units Planned
India’s indigenous stealth flying-wing combat drone programme received a boost, with the Defence Procurement Board of the Defence Ministry recommend
AquaAirX Autonomous Systems, a Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup, has developed a drone that can operate in both air and water. The drone is called AVATAAR and is intended for surveillance and defence-related missions. The company wants to build autonomous machines capable of operating in oceans, rivers and coastal areas.
The company came into the limelight recently after raising INR 12.5 crore in a seed funding round. It received the funding from Rainmatter, Zerodha's investment arm. Rainmatter generally supports new technology-driven ideas and startups developing advanced solutions.
Drone in Air and Underwater
The drone is different from others because it can move between land and water. It can take off like a quadcopter and fly to the mission's location. After reaching the water surface, it can land and then immerse itself to perform underwater tasks.
This makes it very useful for monitoring coastal areas and the ocean. It can monitor the happenings above and below the water. The drone can smoothly switch between air and water operations without any external help.
The drone has also reached Technology Readiness Level 6, meaning the drone's full working prototype has already been tested in real-world conditions. It shows the machine's transition from lab testing to practical use.
Protection Features of the Drone
It is not easy to work underwater because seawater can damage equipment. To cope with this issue, the drone is built from rust-resistant carbon fibre.
The drone also has special coatings to protect its sensors and electronic systems from salt deposits and underwater debris. It also has a special system that helps it move underwater. This system can create 3D maps of objects underwater. Consequently, operators can easily inspect pipelines, cables, and other underwater structures.
Defence and Rescue Missions
The AVATAAR drone can be used for various missions by the armed forces and other agencies. Surveillance is one of its important roles. The drone can monitor ports and berths to find possible threats.
It can also be useful for precision loitering and target-acquisition missions. It can also inspect underwater platforms, pipelines, cables and other assets while collecting autonomous data.
Alongside defence work, the drone can also assist in search-and-rescue missions. It can help locate people or objects in complex surface and underwater environments.
The drone can also support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. In these missions, the drone can provide instantaneous information throughout littoral and near-shore operations.
Source: The Defense Post
Not sure which drone fits your needs? Our experts can guide you to the perfect UAV for your mission.
