Promoting The Concept of ‘Drone Yatra’
Drones are being hailed as the next industrial revolution worldwide, and their deployment across various sectors can significantly increase efficiency in areas such as defence, infrastructure, logistics, and agriculture. In India, the government is taking crucial initiatives like PLI schemes, relaxed regulations, establishment of drone corridors, and investment plans, to boost drone adoption and manufacturing.
One prominent player in the industry, Garuda Aerospace, has witnessed exceptional growth in the sector. Between FY22 and FY23, the drone startup tripled its revenue from Rs 15 crore to Rs 47 crore. Moreover, the company has secured orders for 10,000 drones this year and aims to achieve a revenue of at least Rs 200 crore for FY24. Recently, Garuda Aerospace joined hands with the Goa government to promote the concept of ‘Drone Yatra.’ Rithika Agnishwar, the Co-founder of Garuda Aerospace, emphasises that this collaboration reflects their joint commitment to utilising cutting-edge technology for improving agricultural practices in the state. Drones, according to her, can enhance farmers' efficiency and productivity. Garuda Aerospace's plans include going public by 2025 and becoming India's first-ever drone unicorn startup. They aim to raise another $70 to $100 million in Series B round soon.
Untouched Sectors
Affordability remains a significant challenge in the agriculture sector. Agnishwar suggests addressing this by implementing solutions such as government subsidies, Drone as a Service (DaaS) models, community ownership, and research to reduce costs.
Some sectors have yet to fully explore the potential of drones. Agnishwar points out that retail, infrastructure inspection, mining, and education industries stand to benefit from increased drone usage. For instance, drones can facilitate faster and more efficient last-mile delivery in the retail and e-commerce industry. They can also enhance safety and frequency in infrastructure inspections. In the education sector, drones can deliver educational materials to remote areas, provide hands-on learning experiences, and collect research data. Additionally, drones can contribute to archaeological and cultural heritage studies while creating employment opportunities.
Roadblocks
While the future of the drone industry appears promising, there are obstacles to overcome. Complex and varying regulations across different regions pose challenges for seamless drone operations and international expansion. Safety concerns, such as potential collisions and security threats, also raise reservations about drone usage in populated areas. Limited flight endurance, battery technology constraints, airspace management complexities, data privacy, public acceptance, weather conditions, costs, and the need for skilled operators further add to the list of hurdles.
However, Agnishwar believes that ongoing efforts in technological advancements, collaboration, and regulatory reforms aim to overcome these obstacles, paving the way for industry growth and transformative impact in various sectors. Despite challenges, the future of the drone industry looks promising to Agnishwar.
