NIT Rourkela Hosts Groundbreaking Bootcamp on Drone Swarm Technology

NIT Rourkela has successfully hosted a National Bootcamp on Drone Swarm Technology in collaboration with the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering. This five-day program trained Indian Army officers in advanced drone technologies, emphasizing the importance of academia-defence partnerships in enhancing India's aerospace capabilities. With sessions covering swarm intelligence and real-time control, the bootcamp aims to operationalize drone swarms for real-world applications. The initiative marks a significant milestone for NIT Rourkela in contributing to India's strategic sectors.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 2, 2025, 09:34 IST

Pioneering Defence-Tech Training at NIT Rourkela

Rourkela: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela has made a significant advancement in defence technology by successfully conducting a National Bootcamp focused on "Advances in Drone Swarm and Applications". This initiative was carried out in partnership with the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

The five-day intensive program took place from July 21 to 25, 2025, at MCTE in Mhow (Indore), where Indian Army officers and defence experts were trained in the latest drone swarm technologies. This event underscores NIT Rourkela's emerging role as a key player in strategic technological education in India.

The bootcamp's opening session featured Lieutenant General Vivek Dogra, Sena Medal, Commandant of MCTE, as the chief guest, while Major General Gautam Mahajan, Sena Medal, Dean and Chief Instructor, presided over the closing ceremony.

The workshop was coordinated by a team from NIT Rourkela, including Prof PS Balaji from the Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr Chikesh Ranjan (Project Engineer), and Subhasish Bhoi (Junior Research Fellow). Prof J Srinivas served as the principal investigator for the project, with assistance from Subodh K Dash and Spoorti G Hannikeri from Aerovidya Ventures throughout the training.

This bootcamp was funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as part of its initiative "Capacity Building for Human Resource Development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems" (Aeromechanics theme). It gathered military personnel, academics, drone technology experts, and research leaders nationwide to enhance essential skills for India's aerospace and defence sectors.

Participants engaged with advanced drone technologies through a curriculum that integrated fundamental concepts with cutting-edge applications. The sessions covered swarm intelligence, inter-drone coordination, flight systems architecture, UAV dynamics, cybersecurity measures, vision-based navigation, and real-time swarm control, including multi-agent mission planning with live simulations. The practical modules aimed to equip the Indian Army to implement drone swarms in real-world situations, demonstrating the concept of "From Planning to Field Execution."

Prof K Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela, remarked, "The successful execution of this national boot camp in collaboration is a proud achievement for NIT Rourkela. We extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Defence for trusting us with this vital task. Initiatives like this highlight the significance of academia-defence partnerships in fostering indigenous capabilities for India's strategic sectors and advancing our goals in aerospace and unmanned systems. I commend our faculty, collaborators, and participating officers for their contributions to this successful initiative."