Trimble has recently joined forces with the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) to support a new initiative in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) within the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The official launch of the program was celebrated with a signing ceremony, attended by key figures such as Professor Tarun Gupta, the dean of research and development; Professor Onkar Dikshit; Professor Bharat Lohani; Major General Dr. B. Nagarajan; and Professor Salil Goel from IIT Kanpur. Representing Trimble at the event were Rajan Aiyer, managing director, India, and Sanjeev Trehan, director of business development and sales.

Trimble has contributed direct georeferencing (DG) products for UAV survey and mapping to the institution. This includes a suite of Applanix board sets and the supporting processing software. In addition to the hardware and software, Trimble will also provide training and support to educate the UAV engineering team on how best to integrate and use the products within their teaching curriculum.

According to a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, India is anticipated to emerge as the swiftest-expanding UAV market by 2025. Through this partnership, the nation will acquire indigenous proficiency in establishing optimal guidelines for UAV georeferencing, concurrently fostering the development of future generations equipped with the skills and know-how to engage with cutting-edge UAV technology.

“We are excited to spearhead the development of UAV technology in and for our country, which is being put in the spotlight under a new government-sponsored mandate for ‘Made in India’ commercial UAV solutions", said Professor Salil Goel, PhD in philosophy in geomatics and will be using the technology in his student’s coursework and lab exercises and for further research and development. “Our collaboration with Trimble will allow India to leverage the technology for the country’s agriculture, telecom, urban development and other industries", he added.

Recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India under the Institutes of Technology Act, IIT Kanpur benefits from government funding for its specialized UAV education program. This financial support is directed towards the development of UAV technology, the establishment of labs for student training and research, and the notable achievement of IIT Kanpur's researchers in pioneering the creation of India's first solar-powered UAV, known as MARAAL-1 and MARAAL-2.