What happens when IIT Delhi brings 25 cutting-edge inventions under one roof? From rescue robots to bionic lenses, a playground of future

The corridors of IIT Delhi’s Research & Innovation Park buzzed with curiosity and awe on Wednesday, as the 5th-anniversary exhibition of the I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC) unveiled a vivid panorama of India’s deep-tech future.

The Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Delhi showcased 25 pioneering innovations under one roof, tracing the journey from early-stage mentoring to market-ready products.

For half a decade, IHFC has been nurturing breakthroughs in cobotics and advanced technologies. But this exhibition was not just about machines, it was about the boundless possibilities they herald.


Defence in the Skies: The spotlight first fell on Arka Aerospace’s Universal Kinetic Interceptor drone. CEO Suraj elaborated, “During Operation Sindoor, missiles were even deployed to bring down drones, an expensive endeavour. We developed interceptor drones as a cost-effective solution.” Remarkably, up to sixty-four of these drones can be deployed simultaneously to neutralise a single threat.

Entertainment Meets Precision: From warfare to light shows, innovation knows no bounds. BotLabs Dynamics demonstrated its fleet of drones, all designed and manufactured in India. Business head Pranav Virmani highlighted the accuracy: “Your phone’s GPS is accurate to six metres; our drones operate within 30–40 centimetres. These are the most precise drones in the country.” BotLabs’ 16,000-strong fleet serves everything from aerial displays to surveillance.

Robotics for Rescue: COBRA, the Collapsed Building Search Assistive Robot, took centre stage for disaster response. This snake-like device can slither through narrow spaces, using computer vision to detect trapped individuals. DTech’s founder, Ranit Chatterjee, said, “COBRA mimics a snake’s movements and can determine if someone is alive, making it a crucial tool in search-and-rescue missions.”

Industry’s Eye in the Field: XTerra Robotics presented Svan, a dog-like inspection robot. CEO Aditya Pratap Singh Rajawat explained, “Svan navigates spaces humans cannot, collects data autonomously, and relays it to a central server, aiding plant maintenance and the creation of digital twins of factory environments.”

Healthcare Breakthroughs: Medical innovations were on full display. Articulus unveiled robotic surgical arms, ENRICH showcased a prosthetic arm for amputees, and Kaere revealed a non-invasive glucose-monitoring breath analyser. Orthopaedic surgeons saw machines capable of bending surgical plates precisely using CT scans, while Neurodrishti Glasses demonstrated AI-powered assistance for the visually impaired.

Smart Cities and Agriculture: Data intelligence made its mark through Pixuate’s video analytics, tracking traffic and retail activity in real time. Akshata Kari, CEO, said, “For traffic management, our system captures every violation, such as not wearing a seatbelt. We are also providing footfall analytics for clients like Decathlon.” Meanwhile, Red Mountain Soil Pvt Ltd introduced scientific bee boxes using AI and robotics to improve bee health and productivity, a solution to a 150-year-old problem.

Human-Machine Harmony: Exobot Dynamics presented the Bionic Lens, a device that interprets muscle activity and converts it into movement. Founder Munish Kumar explained, “This technology bridges humans and machines, creating a seamless interface.”

IIT Delhi’s leadership reflected on the journey. Professor Rangan Banerjee, director, said, “We have partnered with ten co-innovation firms, supporting breakthroughs in drones, strategic sectors, medical cobotics, and agriculture.” Project director S K Saha added, “Our focus has always been on impactful indigenous technologies.” CEO Ashutosh Dutt Sharma concluded, “Innovation alone is not enough. The right ecosystem ensures these technologies reach the market successfully.”

Inputs from TOI