Display of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) took the limelight at this year’s IInvenTiv, A Global Innovation Showcase 2025, held at IIT Madras, showcasing some of the solutions to solve socio economic problems of the country.

IIT Indore had a drone-based antenna measures and testing system for communication, defence and space technology. SkyGuard, a semi-supervised drone technology from IIT Goa is for real time traffic rule enforcement and IIT Kanpur had a novel shape morphing drone. All the three are in prototype stage.

Abhirup Datta, Professor, Department of Astronomy, Astrophysics & Space Engineering at IIT Indore, told businessline that Low Frequency Antenna Categorisation System for Space Application can replace traditional anechoic chamber by utilising drone technology testing in real-world conditions. The drone can aid in the development of methodologies to increase efficiency of communication and detection of signals. The drone can also help in identifying infrastructural defects in remote locations.

Characterising large antennas, essential for applications like radio astronomy and deep-space communications, is challenging due to their size, which complicates measurements of gain, polarisation and radiation pattern. To address this, the institute autonomously revolves around the antenna with a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitting (Tx) payload, while the large antenna acts as a receiver.

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The ground station collects data from the drone’s RF Tx payload and positional information, mapping it to characterise the antenna. The RF Tx payload has been tested and its integration with the drone is under testing. The system can help advancements in communication and scientific research, and is useful for communication, sectors defence and aerospace, he said.

Datta and Harsha Avinash Tansi are inventors of the drone for which a patent is under process.

An official of IIT Kanpur at the stall said that the quadcopter drone features a shape-morphing design that enhances manoeuvrability in confined spaces. It is equipped with a novel built-in-gripper that adapts to changing loads. It is ideal for rescue missions in hard-to-reach environments, such as collapsed structures and caves. The prototype has been validated through real-environment testing, he said.

Two wheeler riders face significant risks due to minimal protection with India recording an average of 304 daily fatalities in 2020 from accidents involving unhelmeted riders. Existing methods like manual surveillance are costly, have limited coverage and are inefficient in ensuring compliance with helmet regulations.

SkyGuard, an Automated Helmet Detection System, drone-based solution leverages deep learning for enhanced detection. The project, which is still in the prototype and tested inside IIT Goa campus, said an official. The project is supported by the Centre for Drone Applications, IIT Goa, funded by MeiTY under the Capacity Building for Human Resource Development in Unmanned Aircraft System, he said.

India’s largest R&D Fair

Other than drones, some of the interesting products on display at the exhibition included the world’s first autonomous wing-in ground craft for high-speed transportation by WaterFly Technologies incubated at IIT Madras. “Our vision is simple. We want to enable sustainable, high-speed transportation across the globe at less than $100 per ticket,” said Harish Rajesh, Co-Founder & CEO of WaterFly.

India’s largest R&D Fair, IInvenTiv 2025 showcases groundbreaking innovations from IITs, NITs, IISc, IISERs, and other top 50 NIRF-ranked premier institutes. It is being organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Being held today and tomorrow (28th Feb & 1st March 2025) at the IIT Madras Campus, IInvenTiv brings together top research groups and industry from across India.