Skill University to set up drone manufacturing lab

More than 100 drones will be manufactured every year as per the requirement. “Drone Mantra” will have facility to develop new types of drones and applications of drones.

On the reasons behind setting up this lab, Anju Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Labour, Skill Development and Employment department, told The Indian Express, “With the increase in demand for drones, there is a shortage of certified drones as these are not available with a long waiting period.”

Further, the lab will reduce the costs by an estimated 40-50 per cent for the DGCA approved drones.

Normally, the certified drone costs around Rs 6-7 lakh which is expected to be reduced to Rs 3.5 lakh.

“Drones manufactured here will supplement replenishment of obsolete and condemned drone fleet. For achieving this objectives Kaushlya – The Skill University has collaborated with drone manufacturer to ensure availability of latest technology and manufacturing process. State-of-the-art facilities for drone training is created for the first time in Gujarat at School of Drones,” Sharma added.

Under the School of Drone at Kaushalya – The Skill University, the center will offer two advance postgraduate level courses in drone manufacturing — one year Post Graduate Diploma in Drone Manufacturing and Programming and two-year Post Graduate (MSc) course in Drone Manufacturing and Programming.

Moreover, the School of Drone will offer courses covering entire value-chain of drone ecosystem. The school through this lab will provide special incubation support to start-ups in drone technology.

A prototype of the proposed drone to be manufactured is also ready. It is tested for varied flight conditions and being sent for QCI Quality Council of India (QCI) testing and certification and on receipt of required reports, procedure for obtaining DGCA type certification will be initiated.

In the same premises Kaushalya – The Skill University is also establishing I – KUSHAL incubation and innovation foundation where innovation, research and development and hand holding of start ups and entrepreneurs will be  supported.

In August 2022, the School of Drone faculty under ‘Kaushalya- The Skill University’ was inaugurated after the facility was inspected by the DGCA and the university was granted DGCA authorized Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO) approval for drone pilot training by the Government of India.

So far, over 60 ITI instructors have been trained as drone master pilot trainers by the university.

A training facility has been set up by the School of Drones under Kaushalya-The Skill University as per the norms prescribed by the Civil Aviation Authority, Government of India.