Centre for Aerospace Research (CASR) located in the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) Campus of Chennai is one of the constituent Centres of Anna University which offers higher education in engineering relevant to current and projected needs of the society. Anna University has been a premier Institution in India with a history of contributing in the field of Engineering and Technology for decades. Recently it was honoured with an 8th rank in the Engineering Category in the Top 10 Universities NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) of the Country.

ln addition CASR. also does pioneer research in Design, Development, Fabrication and Flight Testing of Unmanned Aerial Systems. The major technologies involved towards design and development of the UAVs are, Aerodynamics, Structures, Propulsion, Avionics, Mechanical Design & Prototype Manufacture, Software Up-gradation etc. which are available under one umbrella across various departments of the University Campus.

CASR, is spearheading a program on Design and Development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) funded by the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives under the State Planning Commission for the Societal Applications. The Centre has already Designed, Developed and Manufactured five categories of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles viz.
a. Multi rotor UAV – Electric type and Gasoline type
b. Fixed Wing UAV – Electric type and Gasoline type
c. Tethered UAV
d. Vertical Take-off and Horizontal Transition (VTHT) UAV
e. Helicopter UAV

With improvements to flight automation, the drones will be able to evaluate its environment in challenging situations. These UAVs have been deployed in Disaster Management such as flood rescuer operations, cyclone area coverage, rescue operations in building collapse, coast guard surveillance, crowd management and monitoring, aerial mapping of river basins for flood preparedness and crop spraying etc.

Team Dhaksha from CASR has distinguished itself as a pioneer in the Indian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) scene. Team Dhaksha has made possible the Lab to field research contribution, especially from Universities which is a rarity in India not only in the field of Unmanned Systems but for any other research area for that matter. These aerial vehicles are being eyed for peaceful purposes and boosting the economy of the nation.
Dhaksha with its most stable design, also became the only Indian UAV to have dominated the alien skies competing against 153 participating international teams, during May 2012 Technology demonstration at Fort Stewart Military base organised by DARPA, Department of Defence, USA. In spite of many Constraints, the efforts of Team Dhaksha in placing the Anna University, Tamil Nadu in the World Drone Olympic Scene has made Indians feel proud.

The tethered UAVs developed recently and flying successfully has got an endurance of more than 4 hrs. In the real defence scenario, a tethered UAV can be used as a virtual mast towards enhancing the communication range of Tele-commands and telemetry signals in the difficult terrains.

Recently the team has achieved various laurels including Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Award for contribution in the fields of Development of Science, Humanities and Welfare of students by the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu during the Independence Day celebrations on 15th August 2018.

In addition, the team has carried out a World Record Initiative by Multicopter UAV fbr Long Endurance (duration record) under Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) monitored by the Aero Club of India, National Airsport Control representative of FAI which is under review at present.

Team Dhaksha has been placed second of the UAV Medical Express Challenge in the recently concluded competition held at Dalby Model Aero Club, Queensland, Australia during 24th-28th of September 2018. The challenge had three stages of elimination and Team Dhaksha is the only team shortlisted from India with another 12 teams from 7 countries out of the 128 teams registered initially.

In Addition CASR has designed and developed an Integrated Mobile Command and Control Station, which can simultaneously operate 3 varieties of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from within the vehicle with its own power backup, which is suitable for any Disaster Management Applications. The Salient features of the Mobile Command and Control Station is also provided in the Brochure mentioned above

The following are brought to your notice, regarding the credentials of CASR CASR, against stiff competition has already been impaneled by Andhra Pradesh State Fiber Net Limited (APSFL), a PSU 100 % owned by GoAP under the control of Energy, Infrastructure and Investment. In addition

CASR has designed and developed an Integrated Mobile Command and Control Station, which can simultaneously operate 3 varieties of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from within the vehicle with its own power backup, which is suitable for any Disaster Management Applications.

Presently development activities are going in war footing towards development of an Unmanned Helicopter for medical applications like transportation of blood samples and organ transportation etc. which will intern help in pre hospital emergency care and speeding up laboratory testing.

Activities are also on towards design and development of a Drone Taxi, which is being demonstrated in the recent past in various other countries and are expected to be manufactured in numbers by 2020.