Indigenous Drone Technology Solutions for New India
Dr. Nimish Kapoor
India is forging ahead with groundbreaking innovations in indigenous drone technology. As the country strides towards modernisation and efficiency, drones are playing a critical role in various sectors, from agriculture and healthcare to infrastructure and defence. By addressing unique challenges and leveraging indigenous expertise, advancements in drone technology are not only enhancing operational efficiency but also setting new benchmarks for technological excellence. And this has been proven to be true by BotLab Dynamics, which is a proud Made in India drone tech startup.
Years of R&D have made BotLab Dynamics an industry leader in swarm technology, and pioneer in drone light shows in India. Swarm technology in drones refers to a system where multiple drones work together autonomously to accomplish a common task, mimicking the collective behaviour of natural swarms like those of bees or birds. It enables one person to operate multiple drones, enabling efficient execution of complex tasks such as large scale environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, and disaster response.
BotLab Dynamics has set many records over the years, having hosted the world's biggest drone show with 5500 drones, India's biggest drone show, India's first QR code in the sky, and Africa's then biggest drone show in 2022. It has hosted more than 150 drone light shows, and has built a fleet of 6000+ drones, developed from 25,000+ hours of flight data.
With a firm belief in the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, BotLabs has been an active contributor in developing India's indigenous drone ecosystem. DrSaritaAhlawat, MD and co-founder of BotLab Dynamics stated that the mission of the company is twofold: "to be at the cutting edge of innovation across unmanned aerial system applications, and to become a global pioneer in the experiential entertainment industry through our drone light shows."
Journey of BotLab Dynamics
BotLab Dynamics was incorporated in 2016, incubated in IIT Delhi's Technology Incubation Unit. There was a clear goal in the minds of the three co-founders MrTanmayBunkar, MrAnuj Kumar Barnwal and DrSaritaAhlawat to create indigenous drone technology solutions, particularly enabling self-sufficiency in defence. At a time where the Indian drone startup ecosystem was very nascent and Indian hardware startups were few, they designed their entire software and hardware in-house.
MrBunkar said, "Our story has been one of triumphs and setbacks. We started building and testing drones for swarm technology applications starting 2016. It was in 2017 that we got our first funding of Rs. 50 Lakhs from NidhiSSS from DST, Govt. of India, which was an important shot in the arm for future research and development." The startup's first project was providing heavy-lift systems to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute to enable efficient fertiliser use in Indian agriculture. In 2017, it was selected by the Army Design Bureau to demonstrate the heavy lift drone in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
The startup continued their R&D efforts with a defence application focus. In 2019, the big moment came when founders were invited to demonstrate at a competition organised by the Indian Air Force in Pokhran, in front of the biggest decision makers in the country. Despite extensive preparations and testing, the foreign components of their drones failed in the harsh environment. This setback led the trio to realise that they could not diagnose and fix a design that was not theirs. It renewed their determination to create their own resilient, homegrown technology that would thrive in the most challenging conditions.
"From a small team of 67 people in one room, we have expanded to a team of 150, spread across two office locations, attracting Indian talent to a globally prominent field that is fast evolving and competitive," said DrAhlawat.
Impact and Significance of BotLab's Indigenous Drone Technology
Agriculture:BotLab Dynamics' heavylift drones have transformed agricultural practices by enabling precise pesticide spraying for the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, making farming more efficient and effective.
Defence: Leveraging swarm techno-logy, BotLab Dynamics empowers one operator to control multiple drones, redefining SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) operations. Their drone swarms can overwhelm enemy systems, turning the tide in warfare. Awarded a Rs. 1.5 crore iDEX grant for R&D in underwater drones, BotLab has also showcased advanced drone capabilities for India's armed forces.
EcoConscious Entertainment: As a green alternative to fireworks, BotLab's drone shows, free of light and sound pollution, are becoming the preferred choice for national celebrations, religious festivals, sporting events, and corporate milestones. Their Janmashtami show in Chittorgarh earned them the prestigious Best Drone Show Storytelling award at the 4th International Drone Show Competition (2023).
Soft Power Diplomacy:BotLab Dynamics is expanding its international footprint, conducting drone shows in Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone, and positioning itself as a leader in drone diplomacy.
Awareness and Education: Their drone shows aren't just for enter-tainment- they're also used by state governments to promote tourism, create electoral awareness through SVEEP, and inspire students across India, sparking interest in engineering and technology.
Future Plans
Talking about future plans, MrBunkar said, "We want to be at the cutting edge of control systems worldwide, especially focussing on defence R&D. Within the vertical of drone light shows, we will be launching low flying indoor drones in a couple of months' time - a first for India".
BotLab has changed the face of the indigenous drone ecosystem of India and is inspiring other startups to build their own hardware in-house. MrBarnwal said, "As far as possible, we stick to Indian companies to be our stakeholders; we see other drone startups as our partners, not competitors. We recognise our own responsibility to support the Make in India dream not just for ourselves, but others as well". Founders of BotLab passionately believe that only indigenous talent and self sufficiency can pave India's way to AmritKaal.
BotLab Dynamics: Pioneers of Indigenous Drone Technology
Flight Controller (In-House Developed): The startup built its own flight controller, the "brain" of the drone, responsible for stabilising and controlling its movement.
RTK GPS: They developed a cost effective RTK GPS system with centimetre level accuracy, essential for precise drone light shows and positioning tasks, reducing dependency on expensive imports.
Electronic Speed Controller (ESC):BotLab designed their own ESCs, ensuring precise control over drone motors, enhancing stability and performance during flight.
Software Innovations: The startup developed in-house software, including path-planning, anti-collision algorithms, and simulation tools, ensuring full compatibility with their hardware.
End-to-End Technology Mastery: Despite challenges like the global chip shortage and funding constraints during COVID-19, BotLab remained dedicated to mastering both hardware and software, a rare feat in drone technology.
Scaling to 5000+ Drones: Their technology now supports fleets of over 5,000 drones, demonstrating the scalability and robustness of their indigenous innovations.
BotLab Dynamics: A Trailblazer in Drone Technology
First Major Feat (2022)
· The Ministry of Defence challenged the startup to host a 1000 strong drone light show for the 2022 Beating the Retreat ceremony.
· BotLab Dynamics built their entire fleet of drones from scratch at their lab in IIT -Delhi.
· They scaled up from a fleet of 49 to 1000 drones and successfully pulled off the show, making India only the fourth country in the world to achieve this feat.
Key Milestones:
· India's First Aerial QR Code (2022)
· Africa's Largest Drone Light Show (Djibouti, 2022)
· India's Biggest Drone Show (2023)
· World's Biggest Drone Show (2024)
Awards and Recognition:
· Prime Minister's Award (2019)
· Women in Civil Aviation Award (2022)
· National Tech Excellence Award for Women (2022)
· Top 100 Innovators by India Today (2022)
· Best Startup: Product of the Year (2021-22, IESA)
· Winner, Drone Show Storytelling - 4th International Drone Show Competition (2023)
Funding Support:
· Backed by NidhiSSS, iDEX, and the Technology Development Board for their drone show at RashtrapatiBhavan.
(The author is a science communication specialist. Feedback on this article can be sent to feedback.employmentnews@gmail.com).
Views expressed are personal.