High-tech startups have to contend with a slew of problems. Essentially the very problem statement of the startup is fairly hard. To solve these problems different ways and mindsets are required. A problem can have a limited or unlimited set of solutions, but to find an optimized and full-proof solution requires an experienced and highly analytical mind. Such minds are rare and costly. Typically, startups have very limited resources and funds and therefore, have to rely on lesser experienced people, who are prone to mistakes. Alas small mistakes can be very costly.
What made you come up with the idea/concept of Defence and Space Robotics Laboratory? Please share your entrepreneurial journey and vision?
The subject of Robotics is essentially for dreamers and it’s very history exemplifies this. It rose from oppressed humans either to find a solution to save themselves from the oppression or simply mitigate the inherent human limitations. The ancient mythologies be it Greek mythology, Chinese lore or the Indian mythology all spoke in different ways about artificial human like machines that can work on fields, go to battle fields or merely work in place of humans and release them from slavery.
I realised my passion for space exploration and robotics during my early school days. With limited resources or mentorship, I began looking for ways to quench my thirst in this field. I started building mechanical robots or robot-like systems. By the end of my 10th boards I was pretty sure of the path I wanted to venture. I began participating in robotics competitions in IITs and other institutes since then, working on different problem statements. But then it had the purpose missing. What would be the next step after the robot is built? These questions kept striking me, until I reached my university when I began working on robotic birds (ornithopters), Martian rovers, etc.
I began visualising and studying human exploration of exoplanets as well as historical approaches towards it in different eras. The road was gradually getting clear in terms of a vision. The purpose was to solve deep problems of humanity by taking robotics as an instrument. Simultaneously, I was also participating in robotics competitions nationwide and internationally and won several, which not only helped in funding my actual projects but also boosted my confidence. I then thought a lab would be the first step to start and so I founded “Defence and Space Robotics Laboratory” at Gauhati University. I received support from my professors Jyoti Prakash Medhi and Kishore Kashyap in the initial days by way of some space in their own office apart from mental support and guidance.
The first project was a Quadruped (4 legged robot) Robot and manipulator for extra planetary missions in the laboratory. It was in 2018, that the DRDO came up with problem statements from our Armed Forces. Among thousands of teams nationwide, our team emerged among the top 30 in India. Till then I did not have any plans for a startup. However, soon afterwards a Startup India Yatra Program was happening at the University, where I entered accidentally. Encouraged by my professor Dr. Kandarpa Kumar Sarma, I simply presented the quadruped robot and ended up winning the first prize of Startup India Yatra. It was then that I entered into this journey and got the opportunity of incubation in Assam Startup. Since then DSRL has been able to win numerous awards nationally and internationally and even represented India few. I would like to share a few lines in terms of the vision and mission.
VISION: We believe in constantly innovating and advancing intelligent systems for the democratization of exploration and expansion of mankind’s reach and understanding of life and resources on Earth or beyond.
MISSION: To expand humanity’s understanding of space, surface and subsurface of planetary bodies by use of intelligent systems created by aligning the forces of a close-knit passionate pool of individuals in order to usher the path to a world of liberty, luxury and happiness—for everyone
DSRL is now Da”Spatio Rhobotique Laboratory Private Limited, ‘Da’ meaning defence in Sanskrit, ‘Spatio’ meaning Space in Latin, Robotique meaning Robot in Greek. It comes with the tagline “Reengineering Nature”.
We envision and believe northeast to be the epicenter and leader of the fourth industrial revolution underway and we are working towards it.
Please elaborate on your flagship products?
On pushing forward towards a greater goal many problems need to be solved. For instance to win a war many battles need to be won. Similarly, DSRL, although a child, is moving steadily towards its vision, while solving the bigger problem, we need to solve other problems on the way, which lead to byproducts. We have a few products in healthcare and few are underdevelopment/ validation.
For virus inactivation we launched products and robots during the pandemic namely Neelkanth, Zapmini, Tank 254 and Zapmach. These products can deactivate all forms of microbes including SARS-CoV-2.
(Neelkanth : https://youtu.be/hTf1WXj7YzY
Zapmini: https://youtu.be/TTLQBc9gPo4)
In defence we are working on a RADAR system and we are among the top 3 teams in the nation. Currently the system is under validation by the department of defence on Indian borders.
In addition to these we are working on some prestigious projects which are expected to deliver revolutionary products.
What were some of the key challenges that you faced and how did you overcome them ?
To give birth to an organisation has its own challenges but to take it forward sustainably, has another set of challenges. As a high-tech startup, the problems we are trying to solve are hard and few are also totally new ideas. To solve them, we need different ways and mindsets. A problem can have a limited or unlimited set of solutions, but to find the optimized and full-proof solution requires an experienced and highly analytical mind. And such minds are rare and costly. Startups have very limited resources and funds and therefore, have to rely on lesser experienced people, who are prone to mistakes since they are also in the learning stage. However, small mistakes can be very costly. I feel most deeptech hardware startups, including us are also trying to contend with this problem loop. I am lucky to have had a great team who stood in times of crisis and we faced great challenges together. Here I must mention my teammates, Kaustabh Kiran Deka, Abdur Razzaq Fayjie, Kishalaya Chakraborty, Pankhi Kashyap, Maharnab Bhattarcharjee, Ritu Rupam Kashyap and Hriday Ojha. We were guided by professors like Dr. Eeshankur Saikia, Dr. Utpal Sarma, Kishore Kashyap and Nairit Barkataki. The team included researchers from universities in India as well as internationally. This is also an attempt to reverse brain drain, which was also a part of the initial goals of DSRL. It was a challenging goal. One approach that we took was to take interns from institutes here and they were guided by one of our researcher from abroad. The result was astonishing as it led to some good papers and work. However, only time will tell how successful we can be in sustaining it. A lot of support is needed from the society, especially the intellectual society and institutes.
In your view, why is professional mentorship/guidance important for startups?
We all know what we should do, but there must be someone who will say what we should not do to prevent a future catastrophe. Most startups fail for doing what they should not have done, but by the time they realise that, it is too late. That is where the role of mentor is. A good mentor’s cardinal role, I believe, is allowing the startup to make mistakes that will lift them up and prevent them from making some critical mistakes that will lead to death.
Arnab Kumar Barman, founder of Defence & Space Robotics Laboratory talks to Melange about how robotics can be leveraged to solve some profound problems of human existence and life.
Defence & Space Robotics Laboratory a startup by Arnab Barman. With incubation support from Assam Startup, the young innovator took the first step to commercialise his innovations by launching three virus combating products to aid mankind’s current fight against COVID-19.
The first product – Zapmini – is a remote-operated UVC lamp that destroys harmful viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms by breaking down their DNA structure, effective within a range of 6 meters. The second product –Neelkanth – is a semi-automated, wireless Robot capable of disinfecting a wide range of surface as well as airborne viruses, bacteria, and micro-organisms in a large area with 99.99% efficiency. The final offering, Tank 254, is a gadget ensuring 360-degree sanitisation against microbial enemies. The startup has received Idea-2-POC grant of Rs. 5 lakh under My Assam Startup ID (MASI) by the Government of Assam. It has also been awarded a grant of Rs. 4 lakhs under the MeitY EIR programme with IIMCIP.
Besides, DSRL was also among the top 3 teams in BHUMI-BSF Grand Challenge, organised by Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in partnership with the Border Security Force (BSF). The startup was awarded Rs. 10 lakhs during the “AzadikaAmritMahtosav” organised by Government of India. The BHUMI-BSF Grand Challenge was conceptualised to identify cost-effective, impactful solutions from startups to address three problem statements identified by BSF.
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