Flying Robot Created By '5 Idiots' Being Used In Uttarakhand Rescue Operations
ideaForge's 'Netra' - a flying drone which you all have probably seen in the movie '3 Idiots' is being actively used in surveying the area and gathering real-time intelligence on the ground. This unmanned arian vehicle (UAV) is being flown by paramilitary force ITBP to pick up the images of the devastation in Uttarakhand. It will help the rescue teams locate missing survivors and reach out to them.
The Netra UAV has been developed in collaboration with DRDO and is 100% autonomous machine ideal for short range missions. It can be deployed rapidly and is incredibly useful in anti-terrorist operations, counter-insurgency in forested areas, hostage situations, border infiltration monitoring, ariel photography. It weighs just 1.5 Kg and measures 90 cm x 90 cm. Powered by swappable Li-Po batteries, it can carry a payload comprising of daylight camera or thermal camera with pan & tilt control. The machine is designed to operate in the range of 1.5 kilometer and can fly for 30 minutes once charged with a speed of up to 15 knots. We learn that the ideaForge team is currently in Uttarakhand assisting the rescue teams with the operations.
IdeaForge is a creation of 5 IIT Bombay alumni and is in the business of developing alternative energy charging devices for various consumer electronic products. We wish the entire ideaForge team all the best and look forward to receiving updates from them. We have a video of the NETRA UAV in action, do check it out -