Guwahati: The next time you hear about a robot used in guarding our international borders, the intelligent machine may well have been manufactured in Assam. A homegrown Defence sector startup from Northeast, Da”Spatio Rhobotique Laboratory Private Limited, is carving a niche for itself in a the specialized area of defence technology - robotics. Founder and chief executive officer, Arnab Barman and his 11-member team along and chief operating officer, Kaustabh Kiran Deka are indeed scratching the first letters in the narrative of the defence industry in Northeast. In an interview with Business-North East, Arnab tells Pankhi Sarma the remarkable journey of DSRL, its innovative breakthroughs, the impact it is making in the ever-evolving field of defence and security and its ambitious investment plans.

BNE: Your company has a unique ring to its name, is there a story behind it?
DSRL CEO: Our startup was formerly Defence and Space Robototics Private Limited but the name got modified due to issues put up by the empanelment agency. In the name, Da means defence in Sanskrit, Spatio means space in Latin and Rh in Rhobotiques is inspired from the Greek language. Da"Spatio Rhobotiques signifies the advancement in civilization.

BNE: Can you explain the specific technologies and innovations your startup is working on in the field of defense and space robotics?
DSRL CEO: We are developing robots tailored to address border security challenges, including surveillance and information gathering during conflicts. In the realm of algorithms, we've been working on advanced computer vision technologies that are less susceptible to attacks, require minimal data, and are user-friendly. Few of the devices we have developed are Zapmini, Zapmicro, Neelkanth robot, tank 254 for the virus deactivation devices and robots.

BNE: What differentiates your robotics solutions from existing competitors in the market, and how do you plan to maintain a competitive edge?
DSRL CEO: Filing global patents for our innovative technology and collaborating with leading scientists from around the world have solidified our position in the market. It ensures we remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We have so far collaborated with various agencies from border security forces to ministry of electronics, Oil India Limited, 5X steel. In fact, we are trying to tie up with various startups to support them in their research, so that they could focus more on the market.
Collaborations with agencies and startups offer a wealth of knowledge and enable us to contribute to regional development. We firmly believe in collective efforts to foster innovation in the defence sector.

BNE: What inspired you to establish a defense and space robotics startup in Assam, and what unique advantages or resources does the region offer for your business?
DSRL CEO: The journey is undoubtedly challenging, given the scarcity of resources and skilled professionals in this part of India. However, we remain committed to overcoming these hurdles by constantly working on innovative solutions and partnerships.

BNE:  How can other businesses or organizations in Assam, or globally, potentially collaborate with or benefit from your defense and space robotics technology?
DSRL CEO:  Collaborations with startups and established companies enable us to share knowledge, provide solutions, and contribute to regional development, while also enhancing our capabilities on the global stage.
We are helping startups and other mammoth businesses as a research group. We provide solutions to border security forces by solving tunnel problem, tech innovations in oil exploration in support from OIL, developing machines that can work hazardous conditions to replace human in support with Vizag Steel (Navratna Company).
Moreover, we provide services to many startups with some advance equipment like large size industrial trade as well as advanced industrial capabilities starting from print carbon fiber. We also make prototypes.

BNE: Shed some light on the defence sector and how the market for northeast, specially Assam is shaping up?
DSRL CEO: The defense market in Assam has a rich historical background, dating back to ancient times when specialized manpower crafted artillery like "Hengdan." However, the importance and quality of these traditions have been forgotten over the years. With DSRL, our mission is to rekindle these traditions and develop systems that can surpass global standards, blending both civil and military technologies.

BNE: Recently, you participated in the first-ever Defence Expo held in Guwahati. As a startup, what did you gain?
DSRL CEO:  As a defence startup, we unveiled groundbreaking technologies designed for real-time applications in the armed sector. The response was overwhelming, and we've even had clients expressing interest in implementing our systems on international borders.

BNE: What is the current stage of development for your robotic solutions, and what is your timeline for bringing them to market or deployment?
DSRL CEO: We have several projects currently in progress, with some already in trial phases. As they progress successfully, we look forward to revealing more innovative technologies we are developing. 

BNE: Can you discuss your revenue strategies for sustaining and growing the startup in the long term?
DSRL CEO:  Our revenue strategies encompass a variety of offerings, from products and services to systems and algorithms, ensuring the sustainability of our long-term projects. We have raised around Rs 6.66 Crores INR and we are planning for more investments.
The investments we've secured, along with planned future investments, will primarily be directed toward further developing our technology and expanding our operations. For just one project, over Rs 50-60 lakhs of investment is required.

BNE: Can you elaborate on the skills and expertise of your team, and how it contributes to the success of your startup?
DSRL CEO: Our team's diverse expertise, spanning from mechanical systems to AI, computer vision, machine learning, and more, is instrumental in creating pioneering solutions. There are currently twelve of us in the team.

BNE: What are the funding and investment opportunities your startup has pursued to support your growth and R&D efforts? Are there any recent achievements or milestones that you'd like to share?
DSRL CEO: We have received over 30 awards both nationally and internationally from DRDO, DRDO, BSF, Ministry of Electronics and IT, and received few nominations. Recently we have been awarded by Vizag Industry worth Rs2.67 crores. These awards not only validate our commitment to innovation but also serve as motivation for us to continue pushing boundaries. 
Moreover, we have been awarded in India's top 30 in DRDO robotics competition, where we represented NE India, India's top 100 in KPIT sparkle competition for future mobility and energy (out of 22000+ participants), 1st prize in Startup India Yatra, finalist in DRDO Kalam Dare to Dream 2019 (section Robotics and AI), top 600 globally in International start-up challenge by Singapore government, over Rs5 lakh MASI grant by Assam government, top 50 NERES by IIE Guwahati and Northeastern Council, MEITY EIR fellowship, and many others.

Also, we got selected for the International Science Festival, Kolkata, selected in the top 50 in TIECON Kolkata, Defence Expo 2022, in Gandhinagar Gujarat, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Germany, AWE, a cohort by white house-led entrepreneurship programme, and are incubated at Assam Startup, IIMCIP.
We are also the principal investigator at ASTEC (DST funded project), Assam and have been funded by OIL under Startup Initiative SNEH.
We have been given a research lab at IIT Guwahati as well where we carry out all our core experiments.

BNE: What are the key regulatory challenges or considerations that your startup encounters in the defense and space robotics sector, and how do you navigate them?
DSRL CEO: Defence and Space are the most stringent areas where systems are complex and need several trials and innovations to make it reliable equipment and competitive in the worst-case scenarios like severe weather conditions and other geographical conditions. We are currently working across various domains to ensure that our equipment remains reliable and competitive, even in the most challenging conditions.

BNE: Can you discuss the role of AI and machine learning in your robotics solutions and how they enhance their capabilities?
DSRL CEO: Machine learning plays a critical role in the adaptive behavior of our systems, enabling them to respond effectively to changing conditions and constraints.

BNE: What is your vision for the future of your startup in the next 5-10 years, and what are your strategic priorities for achieving that vision?
DSRL CEO: We are aligning our plans with the national mission and attracting top talent to make Assam a global robotics center. Our dedicated team is at the heart of driving this vision forward.

BNE: How do you address the challenges related to security, privacy, and ethical considerations in the use of robotics technology in defense and space applications?
DSRL CEO: Ethics in AI and ML are paramount for us. We are committed to adhering to the best practices, advocating for responsible development, and emphasizing technology that benefits society.
As the godfather of Artificial Intelligence Geoffrey Hinton himself have put a stop to certain projects, as they might shape up differently resulting in danger to the human society.
In today's time the AI and ML are replacing data as they take up lesser time and space as well as develops strong modules and create subsystems, which is detrimental. It might become a threat to socioeconomic zones as well as feed to political agendas. Thus, a strong regulation is required globally and be a responsible citizen.
Most importantly, we need to enhance the human society with such technology and not fabricate it.

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