AMU Students Build Drone Prototype for Parcel Delivery | Innovation in Action

Students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have come up with a smart and affordable delivery drone prototype that could change the way parcels are transported in urban and rural India. Built by a group of BTech students from the Department of Electronics Engineering, this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been designed to carry small loads

Students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have come up with a smart and affordable delivery drone prototype that could change the way parcels are transported in urban and rural India. Built by a group of BTech students from the Department of Electronics Engineering, this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been designed to carry small loads across short distances with full automation. The drone project is part of their final year innovation initiative and has already gained appreciation within the campus.

I chose to write about this because it’s important to highlight how students from Indian universities are taking real steps toward solving local problems using practical tech. Often, we hear about innovations coming from IITs or abroad, but here we see AMU students applying their learning to design a solution that could be both cost-effective and scalable. With the rising demand for quick deliveries in e-commerce, logistics, and even healthcare (like medicine drops), low-cost drones like this can make a big impact. Plus, such projects show how academic knowledge is being transformed into actual working models—and that’s something worth discussing.

What Makes the AMU Drone Special?

Unlike high-end commercial drones, the AMU prototype is built with affordability and functionality in mind. It uses:

Carbon fibre and lightweight materials for the body
GPS-based auto-navigation system
6-propeller design for added stability
Payload support of up to 3 kg, ideal for small package delivery
Failsafe return-to-home mode to avoid drone loss during signal drop

The team has also ensured that the drone is designed to fly in varying weather conditions and can be modified to suit different industries—from retail parcel delivery to emergency services in remote areas.

Developed by Final Year BTech Students

The project was led by final-year engineering students from AMU’s Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology. According to reports, they spent nearly six months on research, prototyping, and testing. The students used open-source hardware, locally sourced parts, and open-access firmware to make the design accessible and replicable.

Their faculty advisor mentioned that this project is just a first step, and with more support, it can evolve into a market-ready product. What makes the effort stand out is that the students were self-motivated, worked after hours, and tackled real-world challenges like battery optimisation, flight safety, and navigation accuracy.

Why Drones Matter in India

With India’s focus on the ‘Drone Shakti’ mission, the central government has been encouraging drone startups and student innovations. Delivery drones are no longer just concepts—they are being tested for delivering medicines in hilly regions, monitoring crops in farms, and even helping during natural disasters.

This AMU prototype fits right into this larger picture. If this model is refined and commercialised, it could help small businesses, kirana shops, and even NGOs in logistics-heavy operations. For example, in rural areas where roads are poor, a delivery drone can bring essentials faster than a vehicle.

What’s Next for the AMU Drone?

The team plans to present the model in various national-level innovation expos and possibly file for a design patent. They are also looking for government and private partners who can support field trials or invest in further development.

If supported properly, this could open up research and startup opportunities within AMU itself. The university has already expressed interest in supporting more such projects and setting up dedicated labs for drone and robotics research.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.