The Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi), Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation Foundation (DRIIV) and Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP) at Indian School of Business (ISB) have signed an MoU to establish a Center of Excellence. on Aerial and Water Robotics for Development and Sustainability (CoE-AWRDS).
“We will be focusing on enhancing autonomy, sensing, and navigation capabilities. Further, our strategic partnerships with communities, academia, industry, government, and civil societies will lead the Center to facilitate the comprehension of research outcomes into practical robotic solutions,” Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor and Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB said in a release.
“These solutions will target diverse applications such as natural resource monitoring, measurement and management, disaster management, environmental monitoring, socio-economic sensing, agriculture optimization, healthcare delivery in remote areas, and efficient infrastructure inspection,” he added.
As part of the MoU, the Bharti Institute of Public Policy will provide its expertise in public policy, impact assessment, policy recommendations, and partnership facilitation.
Pankaj Vajpayee, Dean of Corporate Relations & Entrepreneurship and Director of IIITD Innovation & Incubation Centre, IIIT Delhi, said, “One of the key aspects of our collaboration is the nurturing of the next generation of technology experts representing tribal and rural communities through comprehensive educational. programs and hands-on training opportunities.”
In agriculture, drones can assess crop health, monitor irrigation efficiency, and detect pests and diseases, contributing to zero hunger SDG. Similarly, for SDG 6 pertaining to clean water and sanitation, drones can survey water bodies, monitor pollution levels, and assess the effectiveness of sanitation interventions. In the context of sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), drones can map urban areas, monitor infrastructure, and assess disaster risks.
According to Shipra Misra, Managing Director & CEO, DRIIV Foundation, the CoE stands to empower communities and foster sustainable development.”