Even the sky is not the limit for the future for drones, with some of the Indian startups doing cutting-edge innovation. For example, Marut Drones has developed and delivered two customised Octacopter drones to National Mineral Development Corp (NMDC) for conducting mining operations using advanced sensors. The public sector undertaking is involved in the exploration of iron ore, copper, limestone, coal etc; Marut’s drones are packed with advanced sensors such as Magnetometer, Hyperspectral, and Lidar, enhancing their capabilities for accurate exploration and mining. The drones are expected to make the magnetic survey (a geophysical technique) not only five times faster but also ten times more cost-effective.
The market has also undergone a notable shift following the introduction of the Drone Rules 2021, heralding a fresh chapter for drone startups in the country. The relaxed regulations have enabled startups to explore diverse applications. From conventional uses like surveying they are moving to sectors such as agriculture and disaster management, says Ankit Kumar, founder & CEO of Skye Air Mobility.
Take Marut Drones, which has been developing drones for agricultural, reforestation and delivery purposes. Now it is building a drone for mineral exploration. Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO, Marut Drones, says, “Every component of this drone has been made in India. The introduction of drone-based mineral exploration aims to revolutionise exploration, especially in the search for minerals such as lithium, copper, gold, diamonds and rare earth elements.”
For its part, MS Dhone-backed Garuda Aerospace has come up with “India’s smartest personal drone”, named after the famous cricketer. Droni is designed for use in the consumer photography and cinematography sector at a price of `85,000 on Amazon. It boasts a foldable, portable design, is lightweight at just 249 gm and offers an impressive flight duration of 60 minutes. “It is a game-changing product in the aerial photography and videography market and will empower users to push creative boundaries,” says Agnishwar Jayaprakash, founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace. Droni boasts of a high-quality 48MP camera with wide angle lens optical flow positioning. Its three-axis mechanical stabilised pan tilt ensures perfect stable shots,” says Jayaprakash.
Flying high
Drones have transcended science fiction to essential tools in industries like construction, photography and defence. They safeguard the skies, facilitate reforestation efforts, and tackle large-scale tasks. In the energy sector, drones are increasingly vital. “Imagine a future where advanced drones equipped with infrared sensors detect anomalies in vast solar farms, ensuring uninterrupted power generation. Similarly, autonomous aerial inspections of power lines promise precise issue identification, saving time. This is a reality taking flight today,” says Bragadesh Damodaran, industry platform leader for energy transition and utilities, India, Capgemini.
Startups are increasingly integrating AI and IoT technologies into their drone systems, enhancing functionalities such as real-time data analysis, autonomous navigation and predictive maintenance. Government initiatives backing drone use in agriculture and healthcare create new business avenues, informs Skye Air Mobility’s Kumar.
Boost for healthcare
Skye Air Mobility hit the headlines when its drone covered a distance of 104 km between Baruipur and Medinipur in West Bengal to deliver a medicine consignment of Flipkart Health, reducing the delivery time by 80% compared to conventional means. The startup is deploying its technology in enhancing healthcare accessibility. It has secured seven drone deployment contracts from government healthcare services providers — among them are three All India Institute of Medical Sciences and four leprosy research institutes. “We also plan to expand our fleet of 35 drones to 200 by the year-end,” Kumar says.
