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The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies to establish a Drone Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, aimed at advancing research and development in indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technologies.
The Centre of Excellence at IISc Bengaluru will function as a focused platform for research, design, and testing of advanced drone systems. The collaboration brings together IISc’s academic capabilities in mechanical engineering, robotics, aerodynamics, and control systems with Zuppa’s experience in cyber-physical platforms and navigation technologies.
As outlined in the MoU, the CoE will pursue research in autonomous aerial systems, UAV design optimisation, guidance and control, and secure system integration. The outcomes of this work are expected to support drone applications across sectors such as defence, agriculture, logistics, disaster response, infrastructure inspection, and urban management.
Faculty members from IISc Bengaluru noted that hosting the Drone CoE aligns with the institute’s objective of translating academic research into practical technologies. The Centre will also provide opportunities for students and researchers to engage in hands-on development and interdisciplinary projects related to UAV systems.
Sai Pattabiram, Founder and Managing Director of Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies, said the partnership with IISc would enable closer collaboration between academia and industry. He added that the Centre of Excellence would support the development of drone solutions designed and built in India, relevant to both domestic and global markets.
A senior representative from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IISc Bengaluru stated that the CoE would focus on improving drone autonomy, performance, and reliability through research-led innovation and testing.
Through this collaboration, IISc Bengaluru and Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies aim to advance India’s UAV research ecosystem and develop skilled talent in drone and aerial systems engineering.
Team BharatShakti
