ISB Partners with IIIT-Delhi and DRIIV to Launch Centre of Excellence for Aerial and Water Robotics.

The Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi), Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation Foundation (DRIIV), and the Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP) at the Indian School of Business (ISB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Centre of Excellence on Aerial and Water Robotics for Development and Sustainability (CoE-AWRDS).

The Centre will focus on advancing autonomy, sensing, and navigation capabilities in robotics. Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor and Executive Director of BIPP, highlighted that the collaboration would bridge research and real-world robotic solutions, targeting diverse applications like natural resource management, disaster response, environmental monitoring, and agricultural optimization.

"The solutions we develop will address critical issues such as monitoring natural resources, improving disaster management, supporting agriculture, and delivering healthcare in remote areas," Chhatre said.

Under the MoU, BIPP will contribute expertise in public policy, impact assessment, and partnership facilitation. Pankaj Vajpayee, Dean of Corporate Relations & Entrepreneurship at IIIT-Delhi, emphasized the importance of fostering the next generation of technology experts from tribal and rural communities through specialized educational programs.

The initiative aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger (SDG 2) and clean water (SDG 6), by utilizing drones for applications like crop health monitoring, irrigation management, and pollution assessment. It also contributes to SDG 11 by aiding sustainable urban development through infrastructure monitoring and disaster risk management.

Shipra Misra, Managing Director & CEO of DRIIV Foundation, expressed confidence that the CoE would empower communities and drive sustainable development, enhancing the practical impact of aerial and water robotics.

HBL