The Department of Aeronautical Engineering of Kumaraguru College of Technology organized its first edition of the Drone Industry Conclave on Saturday.

It was held in association with the Mechanical and Electrical Clusters, the Department of Physics at Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT), The Aeronautical Society of India – Chennai, Kumaraguru Centre for Industrial Research (KC.IRI) and Forge Innovations & Ventures.

Shankar Vanavarayar, President of Kumaraguru Institutions, presided over the inaugural ceremony, while Peter Langford, CEO of Avironix Pvt Ltd, was the Chief Guest. The inaugural session also featured Darshan Kumar, Faculty Lead of the Aeromodeling Club at KCT; Raghupathy, Director of Strategic Planning & Review at Kumaraguru Institutions; G. Sankar, Project Director at ADE, DRDO, Bengaluru; and Prem Kumar, Head of the Kumaraguru Centre for Industrial Research (KC.IRI).

Darshan Kumar, Faculty Lead of the Aeromodeling Club at KCT, set the tone for the event by highlighting its objective - to explore the rapidly evolving world of drone technology, which has become a game-changer across diverse sectors, including agriculture.

The conclave aimed to shed light on innovations, challenges, and opportunities in the field. It saw participation from over 15 industries engaged in drone technology and allied sectors, including drone manufacturers, technology start-ups, and academia. 10 distinguished speakers shared insights with the young minds.

Speaking at the event, Shankar Vanavarayar noted that while drones were primarily used for capturing special moments like weddings a decade ago, they have now become integral to diverse professions and services. He emphasized that in the coming years, multiple technologies will converge to redefine drone applications, but their primary goal should be to improve lives and enhance efficiency. 

In his inaugural address, Peter Langford remarked that perspectives on drones have evolved significantly. No longer just tools for filmmaking, drones are now the future of warfare, logistics, and agriculture. He asserted that India is uniquely positioned for a drone revolution, possessing the necessary engineering expertise, technology, and manufacturing capabilities.

However, he said this sector has some unique challenges as well, particularly those posed by India's climate. Drone motors, for instance, tend to overheat faster in India than in countries like the US. Dust and humidity also impact drone performance, necessitating frequent maintenance. So we need to design products that fit well in this market. and also make products that are affordable for the market. 

Discussing the importance of indigenization, he said that the part where we need to concentrate on indigenisation is on the cybersecurity front.

"Everything that falls between the drone's camera lens, onboard processing, the flight control system, the radio communications, the space where the data is stored, that is where we start to think about indigenization. We need to have our own software stack, indigenous firmware and electronics," he emphasized.

"Thankfully we have huge engineers, manufacturing industry and electronic companies that are ready to do that. And if we design they will deliver," he added.

Finally, Mr.Langford underlined the need for Indian drone companies to adopt a global outlook. Citing the success of China’s DJI Technology, he noted that industry leaders thrive not just by selling domestically but by exporting worldwide. He encouraged Indian firms to explore international markets to establish a strong global presence.