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

13 Aug 2024 CW Team

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.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..