EyeROV Wins TDF Fund, Partners with DRDO for Advanced Underwater Drone
DEFENSE

EyeROV Wins TDF Fund, Partners with DRDO for Advanced Underwater Drone

EyeROV, India's pioneering commercial underwater drone technology company, has secured funding under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme to develop a long-range Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for underwater object detection and neutralization. This development comes as EyeROV signs a significant agreement with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

The agreement was exchanged by Directorate of Technology Development Fund (DTDF) Director and Scientist 'G' Nidhi Bansal and EyeROV Cofounder Kannappa Palaniappan at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The funding will enable EyeROV to create an underwater drone capable of deep-sea searches for lost objects and neutralizing potentially hazardous items. This innovative system is expected to revolutionize underwater inspection and security, extending the range and capabilities of current technology.

The DTDF, operating under DRDO and aligned with the "Make in India" initiative, has been instrumental in supporting over 75 projects of national importance, particularly those from startups and SMEs. The TDF scheme's focus on fostering innovation aligns with the broader goal of achieving self-reliance through the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Palaniappan highlighted the significance of this contract for EyeROV, founded in 2017, stating that the TDF fund will bring revolutionary changes to underwater drone technology. "We feel proud to be associated with the country's defense sector," he added.

EyeROV, co-founded by college mates Johns T Mathai and Palaniappan, operates from the Kerala Technology Innovation Zone in Kalamassery. The company has made significant strides in providing safer and more efficient inspections using robotics and artificial intelligence. Their flagship vehicle, EyeROV TUNA, is already in use by DRDO labs, the Indian Coast Guard, and CSIR-SERC, among others.

EyeROV's portfolio also includes the EyeROV iBOAT Alpha, an unmanned surface vehicle that autonomously navigates water bodies, collecting critical data. This environmentally friendly innovation further solidifies EyeROV's position as a leader in the underwater robotics sector.

The agreement ceremony was attended by NSTL Director Dr. Abraham Varughese and top officials from DRDO-NSTL, underscoring the importance of this collaboration in advancing India's defense technology capabilities.

EyeROV, India's pioneering commercial underwater drone technology company, has secured funding under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme to develop a long-range Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for underwater object detection and neutralization. This development comes as EyeROV signs a significant agreement with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The agreement was exchanged by Directorate of Technology Development Fund (DTDF) Director and Scientist 'G' Nidhi Bansal and EyeROV Cofounder Kannappa Palaniappan at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The funding will enable EyeROV to create an underwater drone capable of deep-sea searches for lost objects and neutralizing potentially hazardous items. This innovative system is expected to revolutionize underwater inspection and security, extending the range and capabilities of current technology. The DTDF, operating under DRDO and aligned with the Make in India initiative, has been instrumental in supporting over 75 projects of national importance, particularly those from startups and SMEs. The TDF scheme's focus on fostering innovation aligns with the broader goal of achieving self-reliance through the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Palaniappan highlighted the significance of this contract for EyeROV, founded in 2017, stating that the TDF fund will bring revolutionary changes to underwater drone technology. We feel proud to be associated with the country's defense sector, he added. EyeROV, co-founded by college mates Johns T Mathai and Palaniappan, operates from the Kerala Technology Innovation Zone in Kalamassery. The company has made significant strides in providing safer and more efficient inspections using robotics and artificial intelligence. Their flagship vehicle, EyeROV TUNA, is already in use by DRDO labs, the Indian Coast Guard, and CSIR-SERC, among others. EyeROV's portfolio also includes the EyeROV iBOAT Alpha, an unmanned surface vehicle that autonomously navigates water bodies, collecting critical data. This environmentally friendly innovation further solidifies EyeROV's position as a leader in the underwater robotics sector. The agreement ceremony was attended by NSTL Director Dr. Abraham Varughese and top officials from DRDO-NSTL, underscoring the importance of this collaboration in advancing India's defense technology capabilities.

Next Story
Technology

AirBrick Infra Sets Rs 1 billion Target, Expands to Dubai and Tier-II Cities

AirBrick Infra, one of India’s fastest-growing AI-led commercial interior design and build firms, has announced a sales order target of Rs 1 billion for FY 2025–26. The projection represents a 50 per cent growth over the previous fiscal year and reflects rising demand, increased repeat business, and the company's robust tech-first delivery model.  Now in its third year of operations, AirBrick continues its rapid scale-up, having successfully delivered over 70 projects spanning 3 lakh sq ft in FY 2023–24. FY 2024–25 witnessed the onboarding of several Fortune 500 clients, sett..

Next Story
Resources

Virtusa Foundation Powers Green Education Drive in Bengaluru

The Virtusa Foundation, CSR arm of digital engineering and technology leader Virtusa Corporation, has announced key infrastructure and mobility initiatives at the Ramakrishna Mission, Shivanahalli, Bengaluru. The launch marks the inauguration of a 16-room residential facility for lady teachers and the deployment of two solar-powered electric buses, underscoring Virtusa’s commitment to its core pillars of Education, Environment and Empowerment (3Es).  Located on the forest fringe near Bannerghatta National Park, the initiative supports tribal and underserved communities, complementi..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Godrej Enterprises Drives India’s Smart Green Logistics Shift

As India accelerates its transformation into a global manufacturing and logistics hub, Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG) is taking the lead with its smart, sustainable intralogistics solutions. Through its Material Handling Equipment (MHE) and Storage Solutions businesses, GEG is redefining operational efficiency in modern warehouses and factories using IoT, automation, and AI. GEG has consistently maintained a 20–25 per cent market share in the intralogistics sector over the past three years. Today, over 37 per cent of GEG’s revenues come from its Good & Green portfolio, and its net..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?