IIT-Palakkad & IIT-Mandi Unveil Underwater Robot Exploring Up to 300M

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Palakkad and IIT Mandi have jointly developed an underwater robotic vehicle (URV) capable of exploring ocean depths up to 300 metres. This project, funded by the National Mission of Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) of the Central Department of Science and Technology, showcases a significant technological advancement.

The URV boasts tilting thrusters, six degrees of freedom manipulators, high endurance, and fully autonomous control. These features make it suitable for various marine applications up to 300 metres deep. Extensive testing has been carried out at depths of 30 metres in simulated marine basins and real-world environments, including lakes and dam reservoirs, with support from the Indian Navy.

Patent Application:

Led by Prof. Santhakumar Mohan from IIT Palakkad and Dr. Jagadeesh Kadiyam from IIT Mandi, the research team has applied for an Indian patent for their innovative URV. Dr. Kadiyam highlighted that the vehicle performed exceptionally well even in water currents and with varying payloads. The system is designed to handle different underwater missions such as inspection and intervention in both oceanic and inland waters.

Prof. Santhakumar Mohan, who is also a Faculty Fellow at IPTIF, emphasized the importance of advanced technological solutions for effective exploration in hostile marine environments. He noted that industries like offshore oil and gas, seabed surveys, underwater maintenance, and defence applications could greatly benefit from such innovations.

Commercialization Efforts:

Discussions are ongoing between IIT Palakkad, IPTIF, and a prominent start-up in marine robotics for technology transfer and eventual commercialization. "IPTIF underscores IIT Palakkad's commitment to propelling the development of cutting-edge technologies," said IIT Palakkad Director A. Seshadri Sekhar.
Saishyam Narayanan, CEO of IPTIF, remarked that this development signifies one of the early achievements of IPTIF's technology pipeline. IPTIF is a Section 8 company established by IIT Palakkad and is among India's 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs). It focuses on advancing technology within Cyber-Physical Systems, particularly Intelligent Collaborative Systems.

Support for Start-ups:

IPTIF also supports deep-tech start-ups and entrepreneurs in technology advancement while conducting various skill development programs tailored to industry needs. The Hub is currently concentrating on driving automation within the Energy and Safety sectors.

This collaborative effort between IIT Palakkad and IIT Mandi highlights India's growing capabilities in developing sophisticated engineering products domestically. The URV project exemplifies innovation in marine robotics, paving the way for future advancements in underwater exploration technologies.