India Thought Leaders (ITL): India will be a force to be reckoned with In MAV segment, says Lt. Gen. (Ret.) V.J. Sundaram

Lt Gen (retd.) Dr V.J. Sundaram's passion, even at 75 years, is probably the stimulant for the Rs 100-crore national program for MAVs. Photo: Bhaktar Babu/Bangalore Beat

  | AVIATION WEEK | Bangalore |

 India | August 27, 2010

India’s National Program for Micro Air Vehicles (NP-MICAV) is finally on the launch pad, with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Department of Space and Technology (DST) sponsoring the Rs 100 crore ($21.5 million) mission. Eighty-two different projects in five years might sound too ambitious, considering the delays that Indian aerospace and defense projects often run into. But the team, consisting of experts from the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), National Design and Research Forum (NDRF), Indian Institute of Science, and Indian Institute of Technologies, as well as academic institutions and private industries, are confident that India will emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the MAV/NAV segment.

After spending three days with the NDRF team covering their activities, including MAV test flights, AVIATION WEEK’s Senior Aerospace and Defense Correspondent (India) Anantha Krishnan M. caught up with Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. V.J. Sundaram, Advisor, Micro and Nano Systems, NDRF, to get an up-close view of the NP-MICAV program, which is undoubtedly the most exciting joint mission that Indian scientists have undertaken in many years. “It’s a huge challenge ... we need to develop intelligent flying machines that ought to be smaller and smarter,” says Dr. Sundaram – an icon in India’s missile programs – in the India Thought Leaders (ITL) interview series.

AW: What prompted the NDRF to get into the MAV segment?

V.J.S.: I am from the Indian Army and we faced a lot of issues during disaster management. The civil administrations were often clueless as to what needs to be done in an emergency and demanding situation. So the idea came up to have some simple and effective system that can be operated by anyone to assess the levels of natural disasters. Later on, there was a need to have these platforms for homeland security in the wake of increasing terror activities. Even the Indian Army can use these MAVs to check the happenings around a battalion. With a very large network of engineers, scientists and institutions available, we knew we could make an impact.

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Things with wings: Indian aerospace scientists developing MAV/NAVs that bio-mimic birds & dragonflies

Indian aerospace scientists are bio-mimicking  birds and dragonflies while developing MAV/NAVs. Photo of dragonfly: Baburajan Thekkan

 | Bangalore | India | August 23, 2010

Indian aerospace scientists and designers are drawing inspiration from birds and insects such as the dragonfly in developing micro air vehicles (MAV) and nano air vehicles (NAV) that are smaller, smarter and more efficient.

In fact, some experts in the field say future MAVs and NAVs will resemble birds more than an aircraft.

Even so, a top expert with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) says it is a huge challenge for scientists to accurately mimic birds and insects. “The energy efficiency of birds is huge. Some birds eat less and digest their fat,” says Dr. Prahlada, chief controller for aeronautical research and development for DRDO. “Our biggest problem with MAVs will be powerplants, and hence we may even need to look at biobatteries. Rather, biomimicking a battery, and that’s what we are now putting our heads together [on].”

In order to fly with minimum weight, experts think biomimicking batteries will be the most effective strategy.

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India launches Rs 100 crore national program for micro UAVs

MAV photo: Bhaktar Babu/Bangalore Beat


 By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week |

Bangalore | India | August 18, 2010

India has set its sights on the emerging field of micro- and nano air vehicles with the formation of a joint National Program for Micro Air Vehicles (NP-MICAV).

The project is being sponsored by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Dr. Prahlada, chief of aeronautical research and development (R and D) at DRDO, told AVIATION WEEK that Rs 100 crore will be pumped into the program.

Eighty-two different projects will be taken up over the next five years. The program’s first phase will be completed in three years with Rs 88.36 crore in funding. The second phase — focusing on futuristic technologies — will take up the last two years and receive the remaining funds.

“It’s a huge task for all the agencies involved as the challenges grow, with the size becoming smaller and technologies hence becoming complex,” Dr. Prahlada says. “We are committed to our paramilitary forces including the Central Reserve Police Force, the Border Security Force, the National Security Guards and the police force. The DST will fund only R and D projects, while the DRDO will fund both R and D and project development.

For the full story, please visit:

http://www.aviationweek.com/india

 www.inspiredindianfoundation.org