Indian-Origin Drone Entrepreneur Became Part of the Australian Government UAV Committee

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Meet Rakesh Routhu, whose passion and dedication have revolutionized drone technology, not just in India but also in Australia.

From the start of his career, Rakesh’s deep passion for drones has driven his innovations and advancements in drone and AI technology. This passion led to the creation of DROSNOS (Drone Swarm Navigation System), solving a major challenge by enabling drones to fly semi-autonomously. These innovations earned him recognition from the Government of India. In 2015, he co-founded R2 Robotronics, which attracted investment from Jaarvis Accelerator and won several awards, including the MSME Innovation Award in 2017 at the MSME International Expo. Their work was acknowledged in a tweet by Manohar Parrikar, the former Defence Minister of India.

In 2019, Rakesh co-founded Aerologix in Australia, scaling drone operations by integrating crucial airspace data from government bodies such as Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia. This integration improved flight safety and led to the rapid expansion of Aerologix's drone pilot network, growing from 200 to 10,000 in just a few months. Rakesh, alongside his tech team of over 10 members, played a key role in this development. The project involved complex API integrations and the challenge of displaying this data on a map. Additionally, the information had to be updated in real-time to provide drone pilots with accurate details on permissible flight areas.

The AAA WG was established to assist Airservices Australia, a government-owned organization responsible for managing the safety of 11% of the world's airspace.

This organization ensures safe and efficient airspace management by providing aviation rescue and firefighting services at Australia’s busiest airports.

It collaborates closely with customers and industry to support aviation's long-term growth. The AAA WG helps Airservices Australia gather valuable feedback from customers and stakeholders regarding the implementation of Automated Airspace Authorizations through the Flight Information Management System (FIMS). Serving as a technical forum, the AAA WG discusses integration and execution, offering expert advice.

Regular meetings with members and industry experts are held to focus on implementing these authorizations and addressing related challenges, constraints, and opportunities. The AAA WG is instrumental in transitioning the CASA-Airservices Automated Airspace Authorization initiative from trials to operational use via FIMS, extending to civil aerodromes with Airservices-provided tower services.

The selection process is rigorous, and overseen by members from the Uncrewed Services Advisory Network (USAN) and Airservices Australia.

They carefully review applications, selecting only one or two members annually. Each member is chosen based on their expertise, skills, and knowledge in the drone field. Rakesh was among those selected, thanks to his dedication to advancing drone technology. He has been active in this field since 2015.

In Summary, Rakesh's journey demonstrates how technological expertise and strategic leadership can drive progress in this emerging industry. His innovations have taken drone technology forward and set new standards for addressing real-world challenges. Through his unwavering commitment to innovation and leadership, Rakesh continues to make a significant impact on the drone and AI sectors.