AVATAAR: India’s First Amphibious Surveillance Drone
Why in the news
A private firm, AquaAirX Autonomous Systems, showed off a drone that can fly and also work below the water surface, aimed at maritime surveillance.
Key facts
- Name: AVATAAR, billed as India’s first amphibious surveillance drone.
- Developer: AquaAirX Autonomous Systems.
- Capability: works in air as well as underwater.
- Role: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in maritime settings.
- Sensors and systems: imaging sonar, Doppler velocity logger and AI-assisted navigation.
- Maturity: Technology Readiness Level-6 (TRL-6).
Meaning of TRL-6
TRL-6 shows the prototype has been tested successfully in operational environments, so it is past the lab stage.
Exam angle
- Drone name: AVATAAR; developer: AquaAirX Autonomous Systems.
- Key sensor terms: imaging sonar, Doppler velocity logger.
- Readiness level reached: TRL-6.