IIT Kanpur and AVPL International Partner to Propel Advanced Technology Drones To Revolutionize Agriculture
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) and AVPL International, a leading company in the Indian agriculture drone ecosystem, have joined hands to co-develop cutting-edge drones equipped with advanced technology, designed to address the challenges faced by large-scale landholders in India, Australia, Austria, and multiple European nations. An MoU was signed by Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kanpur, and Ms. Preet Sandhuu, Founder and Chairman of AVPL International.
The joint research project will be undertaken with the Signal Processing in Networking (Spin) laboratory at the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Kanpur, under the guidance of Prof. Ketan Rajawat,
The signing ceremony was attended by Prof. Jayandharan G Rao and Prof. Ketan Rajawat from IIT Kanpur, as well as Prof. Amarendra Singh, Reema Mittal, and Dr. Piyashee Mallik representing Technopark@iitk, along with Mr. Himanshu Sharma, CEO of AVPL International, Mr. Haren Gandhi, and Ms. Sweta Singh from AVPL.
AVPL International is a leader in the drone ecosystem, with operations across 12 states with 50 Global Skill and Incubation Hubs and 20 World Skill and Incubation Hubs focused on the Drone and Agriculture sectors. They offer services for Drone and Skill Training, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), and Drone Manufacturing, alongside agri-input retail outlets, aiming to uplift rural youth through global employment opportunities. Key highlights include their certified agriculture drone “VIRAJ,” strategic partnerships, and plans to open 75 COCO stores by Q3 2024.
Upon signing the MoU, Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of Research and Development, at IIT Kanpur, said, “This partnership will harness drone technology for tackling agricultural hurdles such as seed broadcasting and agrochemical spraying, elaborating on the multifaceted benefits of drones as a cost-effective and versatile tool,”.
Ms. Preet Sandhuu, Founder and Chairman of AVPL International, said, “Leveraging the extensive heritage of pioneering research at IIT Kanpur, we aim to develop drone solutions that will not only fulfill but surpass the advancing demands of agriculture globally.” Mr. Himanshu Sharma, CEO of AVPL International, further added that this collaboration will yield drones that will enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability on a global scale.
To further bolster research and development efforts, AVPL International will establish its R&D lab within Technopark@iitk, the research and technology park of IIT Kanpur. Prof. Amarendra Singh, Professor-in-Charge of Technopark@iitk, stated, “An environment conducive to innovation and collaboration between industry and academia is necessary, and that is what Technopark works towards.”
Ms. Reema Mittal, COO of Technopark@iitk, said, “My team and I work closely with the industry to understand their R&D requirements and help them leverage the thriving research ecosystem at IIT Kanpur in a highly efficient and seamless manner. With AVPL, we have spent close to eight months reaching this stage.”
Through pioneering drone technology and a strong emphasis on innovation and collaboration, this partnership is set to revolutionize agricultural practices and enhance sustainability globally, IIT said.
