Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup AquaAirX has introduced what it describes as India’s first amphibious drone capable of operating both in the air and underwater. The system is designed to transition seamlessly between aerial and submerged environments, addressing a long-standing operational gap in marine and coastal missions.
Unlike conventional drones that operate only in the air, or underwater robots that remain submerged, AquaAirX’s drone can take off like a traditional unmanned aerial vehicle, dive into water mid-mission, perform underwater tasks, and resurface to continue flight. The company’s flagship platform, AVATAAR, is built to handle complex maritime operations requiring intelligence across both marine and terrestrial domains.
The drone’s potential applications span maritime and coastal surveillance, defence and naval reconnaissance, offshore infrastructure inspections, environmental monitoring, ocean research, disaster response, and search-and-rescue operations.
AquaAirX was founded in 2024 by aeronautical engineers Gouthami T S and Jitendra Kumar Purnmal Saini, who identified a critical gap in the robotics and aerospace ecosystem. While aerial drones could monitor ocean surfaces and underwater vehicles could explore beneath, no unified system was capable of performing both functions efficiently within a single mission.
What began as a research-driven concept evolved into a full-fledged startup focused on AI-powered amphibious drones and underwater robotic systems. The company aims to support industries, governments, and research institutions in monitoring and exploring marine environments through intelligent autonomous platforms.
The amphibious drone has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, indicating that it has been successfully demonstrated in relevant operational environments and is progressing toward real-world deployment.
Recently, AquaAirX secured ₹12.5 crore in seed funding, with the investment round led by Rainmatter, the investment arm of Zerodha.
