Jamshedpur: Team RoboAut, the official Robotics and Automation Club of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jamshedpur, has brought laurels to the institute and the city by qualifying for the final round of NIDAR, one of India’s premier national-level drone competitions organised by the Drone Federation of India (DFI).
The competition, held from January 10 to 18, focuses on drone-based solutions for disaster management, surveillance, and humanitarian assistance. The final round took place at Goutam Buddha University, Delhi, with participation from top engineering institutions across the country. The achievement was made possible by the dedicated efforts of NIT team members Supreet, Souvik, Pallab, Akshat, Mayank, Shubham, and Pushkar.
For the challenge, Team RoboAut designed and developed two mission-specific drones aimed at supporting disaster response operations. One drone is dedicated to aerial surveillance and data collection, enabling rapid situational assessment in disaster-hit areas, while the second is a payload delivery drone capable of accurately dropping survival kits to stranded victims.
Engineered with an emphasis on robust build quality, operational reliability, and real-world usability, the drones demonstrate strong potential for life-saving applications. The team highlighted that such systems can play a crucial role in locating victims, assessing ground conditions, and delivering essential supplies during emergencies.
After successfully clearing multiple evaluation rounds, the team advanced to the finals, competing against some of the best drone innovators in the country and showcasing excellence in mission-oriented engineering and aerial robotics.
The team worked under the guidance and encouragement of Prof. Goutam Sutradhar, Director, NIT Jamshedpur; Prof. Satish Kumar, Dean (Research & Consultancy); Dr. P. Kumar, Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering; and Dr. V. K. Dalla, Faculty-in-Charge, Team RoboAut.
Congratulating the students, Director Prof. Goutam Sutradhar said that the innovation demonstrated by Team RoboAut holds significant potential for disaster management and will inspire more students to pursue research-driven and socially relevant engineering solutions.
Faculty members and students across the campus hailed the success, calling it a proud moment for NIT Jamshedpur and the state of Jharkhand, and a strong indicator of the institute’s growing footprint in drone technology and disaster-response innovation.
