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72 Yrs of a Republican India: Defence Sector has these 5 Startups Developing Innovative Tech Solutions

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India’s aerospace and defence accounts for about 1.6 percent of the national GDP and is highly important. In line with a recent report by the renowned consultancy firm – Maier+Vidorno, the aerospace and defence industry in India estimates to reach around $70 billion by 2030. The report presented also states that a major portion of the Indian defence requirements is fulfilled by importing from abroad.
While the country looks forward in becoming Aatma Nirbhar or self-reliant, the government encouraging innovators to delivering cutting-edge Made in India technology for empowering the defence sector. In 2020 August, the Prime Minister, Honorable Shri Narendra Modi emphasized on the requirement for a local defence manufacturing. In 2019, the Government announced plans for funding at least 250 defence startups in the next five years, and several startups since then have been developing technologies for helping the armed forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and Ordnance Factor Board (OFB).
As per data, India has about 194 startups in the defence tech space and on the 72nd Republic Day celebration, some of the startups came into newsroom which is working fervently to support and empower India’s defence efforts.

EyeROV
EyeROV is located in Kochi and is developing an efficient underwater inspection with its marine robotic solutions. It is thriving to solve problems for the industries like defence, ocean research organizations, shipping, oil and gas, infrastructure and construction.

EyeROV is founded in 2016 by Johns T Mathai and Kannappa Palaniappan P. EyeROV is progressing towards the development of India’s first commercial underwater drone for remote inspection of offshore assets (ROV – Remotely Operated Vehicle).

With the underwater drone, human divers will be able to deal with high water currents, poor visibility, and a hostile environment created by wild marine creatures.

With the underwater drone will allow inspection of below sea level (ROV can go up to 100 or 200 metres below the sea level). ROV is till now known to be cube shaped with dimensions of 50cm X 50cm X 50cm and already has completed more than 1000 hours of underwater inspection of dams, bridges, ports, ship hulls, oil, and gas assets.

EyeROV is backed by Maker Village Kochi, Kerala Startup Mission and GAIL.


Optimized Electrotech
Optimized Electrotech is located in Ahmedabad. It was one of the winners of the iDEX Defence India Startup Challenge in 2019. Optimized Electrotech is solving surveillance related challenges through long-distance imaging systems.

Sandeep Shah in 2017, along with Anil Yekkala, Dharin Shah, Kuldeep Saxena, and Purvi Shah, founded Optimized Electrotech. It is an electro-optics surveillance startup eyeing on working with the defence paramilitary forces, aerospace, airports, critical assets, and other industries.

Optimized Electrotech uses electro-optics system for capturing information by converting photons data into images which can automatically be interpreted and coupled with other sensors for a better understanding.
The electromagnetic spectra of different ranges provide different insights into the captured images.

Optimized Electrotech works with 400 nm to 12 μ range band, the visible light spectrum and provides image analysis for several applications like border security and machine vision and others. The electro-optic applications include smart city surveillance, satellite-based imaging, border surveillance, medical imaging, access control, machine vision, automotive assistance, and consumer electronics.

The border surveillance first line product – InfiVision series is designed for detection of a tank in above 30 km range.

The MistVision series provides a long-range electro-optic system for fog penetration. ClearVision series helps in high spectral-range surveillance at any weather condition.

Another series, NoctVision is designed for performing surveillance at night.

According to Sandeep, the Homeland Security (MHA) and Defence (MOD) works fine with the technologies and the products are vehemently used for CISF for guarding strategic assets for BSF, ITBP, AR and Coast Guard, simultaneously keeping watchful eye on border trespassing. For every defence force it is helping in better implementation of law and also in Army, IAF, and Navy for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

ideaForge
ideaForge is a startup located in Mumbai and is in the market for quite a long time. It is manufacturing drones for defence and surveillance and states that has 90 percent of market share in the security and surveillance segment.

ideaForge was founded in 2007 by IIT Mumbai alumni Ankit Mehta, Rahul Singh, Vipul Joshi, and Ashish Bhat. ideaForge is contributing to the defence, homeland security and industrial applications. The manufactured drones are deployed by the Indian Armed Forces, central armed police forces, and state police forces.
ideaForge has been contributing to the geospatial surveying, oil and gas, mining sectors, and at the beginning of this month, ideaForge achieved a contract of $20 million from the Indian Army for delivering high-altitude variant product – Switch Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

ideaForge’s Switch UAV is an efficient system developed for catering to the most demanding surveillance operations to the Indian Armed Forces. Fixed-Wing VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) UAV is designed for deployment at high altitude and harsh environments for day and night for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Furthermore, it helps in battling the current COVID-19 pandemic and previous year in April, ideaForge joined hands with police forces in Sangli (Maharashtra) and Guwahati (Assam) for deployment of drones for surveillance and monitoring COVID-19 social distancing norms during the lockdown.

Vinveli Iowa
Based in Chennai, Vinveli Iowa is developing indigenous UAVs/drones for special forces operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs – like the National Security Guard and the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Ministry of Defence.

Vinveli Iowa was founded in 2014 by Gokul Anandayuvaraj. Gokul is an aerospace engineer from the University of Texas, who along with his college friends Yuan Qu and Eshan Halekote started Vinveli Iowa.

Vinveli Iowa is Accelartor-backed startup which is manufacturing and deploying drones to India’s Special Forces since 2016. Vinveli Iowa’s clients include the likes of the National Security Guard, Central Reserve Police Force and the Ministry of Defence.

Vinveli Iowa develops drones after it receives order from clients with specifications on UAV requirements and develops accordingly. All raw materials used are locally collected.

Nyokas Technologies
Nyokas Technologies is located in Kochi. Nyokas Technologies won the iDEX 2019, an ultra-smart clothing startup. Nyokas Technologies is renowned for developing individual protection systems or body armour through an amalgamation of nano-materials, textiles, electronics, and software.

Nyokas Technologies was founded in 2017 by Ajay Sangwan, Vivek Jose, Rohit T, and Teny Thomas. Nyokas Technologies developed a monitoring T-shirt with built-in sensors for tracking the vitals of the wearer and has also developed a wearable jacket Zeal for empowering civilians for protecting themselves from any assault or life-threatening situations like mob attacks. During these times, the pressure-activated sensors will understand the approaching danger and will immediately alert the nearby authorities about the attack via the official app. It is now aimed at developing an ecosystem for high-tech clothes in India through nano-science and fashion technology.

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