The Department of Telecommunications, India (DoT) has approved 43 startups and MSMEs – micro, small and medium enterprises – for a grant of ₹50 crores to develop indigenous 5G equipment and technologies. The initiative is a step toward preparing India for the rollout of 5G services.
DoT has approved the grant under the Digital Communication Innovation Square initiative through the Champion Services Sector Scheme. The government of India had invited applications for the scheme in April to promote an ecosystem for research, IPR creation, design, and manufacturing.
The grant will be utilized for developing telecom technologies, including 5G core, NMS, RAN, IMS, devices, chipsets, ICT solutions, and deep tech enhancing applications. The aim is to create competencies in domestic entities and prepare the country to roll out 5G services.
The names of approved organizations include Coral Telecom, BKC Aggregators, SASTRA University, Wisig Networks, Versatile Antenna Systems, and several others.
The Digital Communication Innovation Square Initiative was started to foster an ecosystem of indigenously developed telecom equipment and reduce reliance on imported equipment and technologies.
According to the scheme, startups will get a grant of Rs 50 lakhs, and MSMEs will get a grant of Rs 2 crore. Consortiums will get a grant of Rs 10 crore. Financial support will be provided to only those projects and ideas that have reached the concept level.
The scheme will also provide mentorships, incubation support, and technical advisory support during the project to the startups and MSMEs.
With an intent to prevent more Australians from falling victim to scams, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has introduced the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect suspicious behavior on its digital banking platforms. The AI keeps customers’ banking experience safe by alerting them of potential scams.
The new AI-based technology uses machine learning techniques to track unusual changes to how customers usually interact with their devices. The AI is an extension of the comprehensive scam and fraud protection strategy of CBA.
Customers develop certain behaviors, habits, and patterns concerning their banking. For example, patterns relating to when they use the services, on what devices, their keystrokes, and their mouse usage. Deviations from such patterns could be perceived as a sign that either their accounts have been compromised or someone else is using their device.
The new protect, detect, and resolve approach is aimed at identifying irregularities or scams and shutting down actions not authorized by the customer.
CBA is also increasing its investment in fraud protection and releasing educational videos to inform customers how to protect themselves from scams. CBA is also doubling the size of its scam prevention and protection team.
Along with the new AI detection system, CBA is also introducing two-way push notifications that are safer than one-way SMS messages. If the login is not recognised by the customer, the scam and fraud detection platform of CBA takes immediate protective actions.
The aircraft demonstrated a perfect take-off, waypoint navigation, and a smooth touchdown in a fully autonomous mode.
The test flight is a crucial milestone in proving critical technologies for the development of future unmanned aircraft. It is also considered a significant step towards self-reliance in strategic defense technologies.
The unmanned aerial vehicle is designed by a premier research laboratory of DRDO, Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru. The aircraft’s airframe, undercarriage, flight control, and avionics systems have been developed indigenously.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the move would boost India’s self-reliance in critical military systems. He added that this significant achievement toward autonomous aircraft would pave the way for Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
Secretary of Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, appreciated the efforts of all the teams associated with the design, development, and testing of the system.
Harvard psychologist and researcher Nancy Etcoff, along with a biotechnology company, Deep Longevity, has identified a machine learning approach to human psychology by creating two digital models based on data from the Midlife in the United States study. The findings were reported in a research paper published in Aging-US.
The first model is an ensemble of deep neural networks, which predicts the respondent’s chronological age and psychological well-being in the next ten years using the information from a psychological survey. The model illustrates the trajectories of the human mind as it ages.
The model demonstrates that the respondent’s capacity to form meaningful connections, mental autonomy, and environmental mastery develops with age. It also suggests that the focus on personal progress is constantly declining; however, the sense of purpose in life only fades after the age of 40 to 50.
The results from the first model add to the growing knowledge on hedonic adaptation and socioemotional selectivity in the context of adult personality development. The second model mentioned in the paper is a self-organizing map created to serve as the foundation for the recommendation engine for mental health applications. The unsupervised learning algorithm splits all respondents into clusters depending on their likelihood of developing depression and then determines the shortest path toward mental stability for any individual.
Deep Longevity has released a web service FuturSelf, to demonstrate this system’s potential. FuturSelf is a free online application that allows users to take the psychological test described in the original publication.
At the end of the test, users receive a report with insights aimed at improving their long-term mental health. Also, users can enroll in a guidance program that provides them with a steady flow of AI-chosen recommendations.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi is launching an MBA programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) intending to develop corporate leaders who are prepared for the future and are knowledgeable in technology and management. The institute announced its two-year program to focus on managerial decision-making in the data science and AI industry.
Prof Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi, said, “This MBA program aligns with IIT Mandi’s motto and strives to produce future-ready management leaders to tackle industry and academic challenges.”
He also added that the program will enable students to transform data into more profitable business decisions where ML, AI, and data science will add value to the analysts and developers.
The IIT Mandi MBA data science and AI program differs from mainstream technology-based courses like B.Tech/M.Tech/MS as it combines technology and various science disciplines with business and management domains.
Undergraduate students from all backgrounds who have taken mathematics up to the +2 level are eligible for the program. On the Institute website, you can find more information on eligibility under the admission link. The course will begin on June 29, 2022, the application procedure will end on July 17, 2022.
The American social news aggregator Reddit moves into Spain by purchasing a Natural Language Processing company to deal with its unstructured content. Reddit plans to strengthen its ML proficiencies as it acquires MeaningCloud.
Reddit is a news aggregator, content rating, and discussion portal where users can post content to the site and start discussions. It has been a part of Conde Nast Publications since 2003 and is currently the ninth-most-visited website in the world. Reddit is trying to expand into Europe, which has a vast potential market, after experiencing great success in English-speaking regions like North America and the UK. Access to this office in Spain via MeaningCloud will grow communities inside the EU.
MeaningCloud was established in 2015 and focuses on deriving meaning from unstructured content, including web content and social media chats. Reddit claims that its technology will improve its machine learning capabilities and comprehension of unstructured data so that it can give Reddit users pertinent information.
Jack Hanlon, the VP of data at Reddit, said, “MeaningCloud helps strengthen Reddit’s platform by helping our community get the relevant information they are looking for even faster.”
The announcement of this acquisition aligns with Reddit’s recent purchase of Spell, a machine learning platform founded by former Facebook engineer Serkan Piantino. The platform provides a cloud computing solution to run resource-intensive ML algorithms with high-end hardware.
MeaningCloud’s acquisition is another step forward in Reddit’s strategic investment in AI. The latter uses ML for personalized recommendations in its ‘Discover Tab.’ The company also uses it for targeted advertising.
Abu Dhabi-based tech startup Hub71, a part of the Dh50 million Ghadan 21 economic stimulus programme, is partnering with e& enterprise to establish a high-end AI Centre of Excellence, the first of its kind in UAE. This tech hub will be supported by the tech unicorn, DataRobot, via a three-year strategic contract. DataRobot, a widely used cloud platform, will launch its AI-as-a-service (AIaaS) in the region with the assistance of e& enterprise.
UAE is a large economy that is anticipated to reap benefits from AI adoption in the Middle East. As per research by the PwC Consultancy, the revolution in tech will add up to 14 per cent to the country’s GDP by 2030. It will contribute about $98B as the new AI centre aggregates start-ups, investors, and technology to develop new AI applications in predictive modelling for health care, financial services, industry, etc.
Badr Al Olama, Chief Executive of Hub71, said, “Immense potential in sectors that are of strategic importance to Abu Dhabi’s socio-economic growth.” He continued to explain that in support of the objectives mentioned in the UAE Centennial 2071, the focus would be on entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation to develop technologies as a catalyst in diversifying the economy.
Salvador Anglada, Chief Executive of e& enterprise, said, “The AI Centre of Excellence, supported by our strategic partner DataRobot, will further progress our vision to be the leading digital enabler for our enterprise and government clients as we empower them to become data-driven and highly automated organisations.”
Start-ups can submit an application to the AI CoE to provide innovative solutions to problems that corporations and the government face. This can be done through Hub71’s incentive programme with e& enterprise as a partner.
Drones are being used extensively on a commercial basis all across the globe. Drones can be utilized for several tasks, including aerial photography, filmmaking, or transportation of vaccines and medicines to distant regions of the country. As expert forecasts show explosive growth in the industry, investments in drone technology and top drone companies in India are surging. According to studies, the drone market is expected to reach $1.21 billion by the end of 2022.
To maximize the utility of drones in public life, the Government of India has been implementing its drone policy for the past few years. According to stock market experts, the Government of India is planning to expand the drone industry beyond the defense sector by endorsing the top drone companies in India.
GoI has now allowed the use of drones in agriculture, healthcare, and other sectors. After the release of the new drone policy in July 2021, drone coverage has increased from 300 kg to 500 kg. The Indian government is expected to allow the use of drone technology in the supply-chain systems for e-commerce giants like Flipkart and Amazon.
Listed below are the top drone companies in India which are expanding their operations by leaps and bounds. However, the numbering is not to be considered as the company ranking or an order of preference.
Zen Technologies Limited
With over 1,000 training systems shipped across the world, Zen Technologies Limited is one of the top drone companies in India, building training systems for combat readiness. Established in 1993, Zen Technologies Limited designs, develops, and manufactures combat training solutions for the defense and security forces training across the world. Zen Technologies has headquarters in Hyderabad with several offices across India and US. Zen Technologies produces 40+ different Live Fire, Virtual and Constructive, and Live Instrumented training systems to support individual and collective training capabilities. The company’s vision is to be a leading global defense training provider through innovative and cost-effective solutions.
Paras Defence And Space
To expand the work on drone technologies, Paras Defence and Space has partnered with several multinational corporations over the years. Paras offers a wide range of drone technology based products and solutions for the defense and space applications, making it one of the top drone companies in India. With more than 40 years of sustained business growth in Defence & Space Engineering, the company is involved in technologies for Rocket and Missiles, Space Research, Drone Technology, Naval Systems, Land and Armored Vehicles, etc. Paras has an exceptional manufacturing setup with a workforce of 400+, having the capability to offer solutions from design to commissioning of small to large systems. The company focuses on technology research and development, distinguishing it as a true IDDM company in the Indian defense sector. The company has a vibrant team working on creating future technologies and providing cutting-edge solutions for the customers.
DCM Shriram Industries
In 2021, DCM Shriram Industries invested $1 million by buying a 30% stake in the Turkish drone company Zyrone Dynamics. The company is a top business conglomerate and drone manufacturer in India with an annual group turnover of ₹9,849 crores. DCM Shriram Industries has a total turnover of approximately ₹8,000 crore. This diversified manufacturing company focuses on the development and manufacturing of versatile drones to target the defense sector and beyond. The company has a research and development (R&D) center in Delhi and also has licenses to manufacture defense drones at its facilities across India.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the largest aerospace and defense drone manufacturer in India the world today, and one of the top drone companies in India. HAL is an Indian government owned defense and aerospace company, which is headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The company is currently engaged in the production of the first 5 Tapas drones in India. In 2021, HAL received a proposal from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to supply 70 basic trainer HTT40 aircraft. HAL is primarily involved in the design, development, and manufacturing of a wide range of products that include drones, aircraft, helicopters, aero-engines, etc.
TechEagle Innovations
TechEagle Innovations is India’s first and largest manufacturer of high-speed, long-range, and heavy-payload delivery drone logistics systems. In 2018, Zomato acquired TechEagle Innovations, a top drone manufacturer in India, to start working on drone-based delivery of foods. Recently, India Post satisfactorily finished its very first drone mail delivery trial project with this Gurugram-based startup. TechEagle became the first Indian company to present their solutions to various stakeholders in the GCC region at Dubai Expo 2020 and to partner with Astral Aviation to export drones.
Asteria Aerospace Limited
Asteria Aerospace Limited is one of the top drone companies in India, providing actionable intelligence from aerial data. Asteria designs and manufacturers thoroughly customized drone solutions for government and enterprise customers. The company utilizes its in-house software development, hardware design, and manufacturing capabilities to provide top-notch drone technology. Asteria is a trusted company that provides long-term, quality-focused, and reliable products and services. It caters to sectors such as the defense and homeland security, agriculture, oil and gas, energy and utilities, telecommunications, mining, and construction sectors. The company is a subsidiary of Jio Platforms, a majority-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries. The company strives to develop innovative and reliable drone-based hardware and software solutions that transform aerial data into actionable intelligence.
Throttle Aerospace Systems
Throttle Aerospace Systems (TAS) is one of the fastest growing top drone companies in India. TAS is a drone hardware and software maker based in Bangalore, India. The company was formed by a team of aviation enthusiasts having 15+ years of professional experience in design, engineering, manufacturing, software development, and supply chain pertaining to aerospace and defense industries worldwide. TAS is India’s first DGCA approved drone maker for civil drones and also has a license to manufacture military drones from MOD. Recently, RattanIndia Enterprises acquired a 60% stake in Throttle Aerospace Systems.
RattanIndia Enterprises
The flagship company of Rattanindia Group, RattanIndia Enterprises Limited focuses on businesses with cutting edge technologies which have the potential to transform human lives. RattanIndia Enterprises believes that the drone industry is set to positively impact the core sectors of the economy. The drone technology will prove to be substantially transformative by providing cost effective business solutions for developing countries like India, the company says. RattanIndia Enterprises has made strategic investments in a US-based market leader in urban drone logistics, Matternet. The company has also started the drone solution business in India in its completely owned subsidiary NeoSky India Limited
General Aeronautics Limited
Recently, Adani Enterprises acquired a 50% stake in General Aeronautics Limited, which is a top drone manufacturing company in India, providing commercial drone-based solutions for crop protection. General Aeronautics was established to address aircraft design in all its aspects from a comprehensive system-level perspective. Farming techniques have substantially evolved over the last few decades. The use of drones, which are also named as unmanned aerial vehicles, in farming is one among its various evolutions. Agricultural drones are a big step to set foot on sustainable farm management with a promise to deliver socio-economic benefits to meet the challenges of feeding an ever-growing population.
Aarav Unmanned Services
Aarav Unmanned Services is the first professional drone manufacturing company in India providing solutions for enterprises. AUS is a start-up from IIT Kanpur and is presently headquartered in Bangalore. In the last 5 years, drones manufactured at AUS are constantly setting world-class technology benchmarks and have made it one of the top drone companies in India. The company excels in drone intelligence, hardware optimization, and design innovation. AUS is an undisputed leader of commercial drones in India after having served key players across private and public sectors. In 2021 AUS had won a contract to deploy drones across four states viz. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan under the Indian government’s SVAMITVA scheme.
Skylark Drones
Skylark Drones is one of the top drone companies in India, founded in 2014 by Mrinal Pai and Mughilan Thiru Ramasamy in 2014. The company’s head office is located in Bangalore, India. The startup uses drones to gather data. It analyzes and then provides the data to the enterprises related to mining, infrastructure, agriculture and renewable energy. The company also offers solutions to manage compliance solutions and drone operations. Skylark Drones, which has been helping food delivery app Swiggy get its drones off the ground, raised $3 million in its pre-Series A funding round co-led by Zomato’s investor Info Edge Ventures and Indian Angel Network fund. The startup has also raised funding of $756 from Vruddhi, Enzen, and IKP EDEN.
Zyrone Dynamics
Zyrone Dynamics is a drone manufacturing company in India, founded in 2018 with a mission to be a game changer in the drone industry. Zyrone Dynamics offers a wide range of engineering services in the area of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Zyrone Dynamics facilities a unique unmanned aerial platform and even complete unmanned system solutions to meet broad customer requirements with an agile and experienced team. The company also offers easy to customize, scalable conventional platforms with innovative touches which extends capabilities of regular multi-rotor and fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
To speed up digital transformation and value creation for clients of all sizes in the industry, buildings, grids, and mobility, Siemens launched an open digital business platform, the Siemens Xcelerator. The business platform facilitates a quicker, more scalable, and more effortless digital transformation.
Peter Korte, Siemen’s Chief technology and strategy officer said, “Data is locked in silos applications, they don’t drop seamlessly together, the deployment of the solutions takes a long time, it’s complex.”
This is where the Siemens Xcelerator enters the picture. Its pipeline of IoT-enabled hardware, software, and digital services is designed to speed up digital transformation while adhering to the principles of interoperability and flexibility. The platform will also use an ecosystem of partners to ensure that solutions are quickly made available to clients.
Siemens is also partnering with NVIDIA to unveil its first new Saas offering, an industrial metaverse Building X, an open AI-enabled suite for net-zero buildings. Building X is a revolutionary intelligent building suite designed to establish a single source of truth (SSOT) that simplifies digitalization and helps clients reach their net-zero objectives. Data silos in industries like energy management, security, and building maintenance are broken down by Siemen’s end-to-end data and analytics suite.
The firms intend to link NVIDIA Omniverse, a 3D design and collaboration platform, and Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform, as the first stage in their partnership. This will enable an industrial metaverse where businesses can make decisions more quickly and confidently thanks to physics-based digital models from Siemens and AI-enabled, physically accurate, real-time simulation from NVIDIA.
Siemens also intends to incorporate Industrial Operations X, which combines solutions and applications from the sensor to edge to cloud. Further, it will all add IoT as-a-service and low code development capabilities, as well as a wide variety of ready-to-use apps, into its industrial internet of things (IIoT) solutions for industry.
Several US Federal agencies are considering how to develop trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools to prevent bias and inequity across IT systems and decision-making processes.
According to Defense Logistics Agency AI Strategic Officer Jesse Rowlands, AI can expose shortfalls across organizations if they lack quality data or if there are gaps in training algorithmic models. He added that AI could help organizations identify where to strengthen fairness and equity practices.
Department of Commerce Chief Data Scientist Chakib Chraibi said that AI is a powerful technology tool that can potentially fill gaps in human biases as long as the right policies and frameworks are in place.
Chraibi also said that currently, there are equity shortfalls and barriers across different business functions. While AI can exacerbate and amplify some of those issues, it can also promote and achieve equity and fairness.
Several federal AI leaders are focusing on ethics use cases in areas where human judgment is involved, as they are often susceptible to human biases. These include human resources, buying, contractor selection, bidding, finance, and more.
Donna Murphy, Community Affairs Deputy Comptroller for Compliance Risk, said that her agency, along with the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, is working on automated valuation model rule making to avoid potential discrimination in property valuations.
