Srinivas University launches human-carrying drone “Shree Vimana” in Mangaluru

Srinivas University launches human-carrying drone “Shree Vimana” in Mangaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 26, 2025: In a breakthrough for interdisciplinary innovation, students and faculty of the Srinivas Institute of Engineering and Technology, under Srinivas University, have built a human-carrying drone named “Shree Vimana”, capable of transporting a person up to 15 kilometers. The drone was successfully launched on August 25 at the Mukka campus.

Developed jointly by the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & AI, Robotics, and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, the project is being hailed as a potential game-changer for disaster management, healthcare, and defence.

 

 

 

 

 

Chancellor Dr. CA A Raghavendra Rao described the launch as a milestone in the university’s achievements, praising the leadership of Prof. Vishwas Shetty and his student team. Pro-chancellor Dr. A Srinivas Rao, along with board member A Vijayalakshmi R Rao, Prof. ER Mitra S Rao, registrar Dr. Anil Kumar, development registrar Dr. Ajay Kumar, and others, attended the event.

Human-Centric Design

Unlike conventional drones, Shree Vimana is built to safely carry a live passenger. The team conducted extensive trials to ensure stability, balance, and overall safety. Pro-chancellor Dr. A Srinivas Rao noted that the trials proved the drone’s ability to operate reliably under varied conditions.

Wide-Ranging Applications

The drone holds promise for multiple sectors:

Disaster relief: Rescuing people from inaccessible flood or earthquake zones.

Emergency healthcare: Delivering doctors, medicines, and supplies to remote regions.

Defence: Offering new capabilities in strategic operations.

Regulatory Pathway

Given the sensitive nature of human-carrying UAVs, the university is working to align the project with DGCA’s drone regulations, which mandate strict rules on registration, pilot certification, and operational zones. Prof. Shetty said their compliance-focused approach will help ensure approval for safe deployment.

A Model for Future Research

By blending mechanical design, AI-driven control, and aircraft maintenance expertise, the project demonstrates how academic collaboration can yield practical solutions to real-world challenges.

The project team included students Vishakh Mendon (Mechanical Engineering) and Arvind Wilson (Robotics Engineering). Prof. Swati created history as the first woman to fly in Shree Vimana during its launch.

Also present were Dr. Ramakrishna N Hegde, dean of Engineering & Technology, Dr. Praveen B M, director of Research, and Balakrishna Gatti of Gajanan Machine Works, who contributed to the welding process.