Kurnool: A research team from the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM), Kurnool, has developed an underwater drone—believed to be the first of its kind in India. The drone was successfully deployed in the Srisailam reservoir to assess the condition of the plunge pool, capturing high-resolution video footage from deep underwater.
The experimental operation, conducted on Saturday in the Gundala area of the Srisailam reservoir, aimed to visually inspect the submerged structural integrity of the plunge pool, which has suffered wear and tear over the past four decades due to continuous hydraulic energy dissipation. This innovative effort was led by Dr K. Krishna Naik, associate professor, department of electronics and communication engineering, and Dr Ravi Kumar Mandava, assistant professor, department of mechanical engineering, along with their team of researchers.
The underwater drone, designed and developed in-house at IIITDM Kurnool, is equipped with advanced sensors and video capture capabilities, enabling real-time data collection in deepwater environments. The footage collected during the Srisailam experiment is expected to aid civil engineers and dam safety experts in identifying structural damages—particularly to the cylindrical structures in the plunge pool—and plan phased rectification measures.
“This is likely the first underwater drone of its kind developed in India. Although similar systems may exist internationally, this indigenously built platform demonstrates our ability to monitor submerged structures reliably,” said Dr Krishna Naik. “Senior irrigation officials approached us while we were conducting underwater drone experiments under a sponsored research project. Based on their request, we deployed the drone at Srisailam, and the recorded videos will be valuable for structural analysis by civil engineers.”
The project is supported by the Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TIHAN), IIT Hyderabad. Dr Naik’s broader research focuses on underwater drone technologies for infrastructure monitoring, including inspection of ship hulls, submerged foundations, and other critical assets.
The director of IIITDM Kurnool lauded the achievement, congratulating the team for the successful execution of the field experiment. Officials from the Dam Maintenance Division of the NSR Srisailam Project, who facilitated the operation, also expressed their appreciation, recognising the importance of such technology in enhancing the safety and maintenance of critical hydro-infrastructure.
