When early-stage prototyping faces limited component access and bulk-order restrictions, innovation often faces a deadlock. In this situation, how can vendor flexibility boost R&D and startups? Vijay Veera from MicroSysLogic Technologies shares his views with EFY’s Nitisha Dubey.
Q: How are your innovations improving automation, communication, and security across the defence, energy, and storage sectors?
A: Our innovations span multiple sectors, enhancing efficiency and security through advanced technology. In defence, our vehicle-to-vehicle automation system enables seamless communication between armoured vehicles like the T90 and T70, improving coordination and operational safety. We also develop RF (radio frequency) communication and drone systems to support strategic field operations. In the energy sector, our SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems monitor solar and thermal performance with integrated hardware and cloud platforms, enabling remote oversight and optimisation. Additionally, our AI (artificial intelligence)-powered locker system uses facial recognition for secure electronic and pharmaceutical storage, offering smart, contactless access in high-security environments.
Q: Who are your target customers?
A: Our target customers cover defence, automotive, industrial automation, energy systems, including solar and thermal plants, and any business that requires intelligent automation. For example, our AI locker system can be utilised not only in the pharmaceutical industry but also in malls and manufacturing units. Similarly, our SCADA systems are beneficial for both solar and thermal energy monitoring.
Q: Are you building hardware, software, or both?
A: We are building both hardware and software in-house. This is one of the key strengths of Microsyslogic Technologies. We understand the exact pain points of our customers and build custom solutions accordingly. The only part we currently outsource is PCB (printed circuit board) fabrication, which we do through our partners.
Q: From where do you source electronic components?
A: We prioritise sourcing components from Indian vendors as much as possible. However, when it comes to very specific sensors or components that are not available locally, we sometimes have to look internationally. Sourcing components in small quantities for prototyping is a major challenge. Some vendors require bulk orders, which do not suit initial proof-of-concept development.
Q: What are the key challenges in the Indian embedded systems and AI development space?
A: A major challenge is sourcing components in small quantities for prototyping. During early-stage development, we typically require only a handful of components, but many suppliers only support bulk orders. This can delay development and increase costs. We believe more flexibility from vendors and a wider network of component suppliers would significantly help startups and research and development (R&D)-focused companies like ours.
Q: Can your AI systems detect product defects in real time on the assembly line?
A: Yes, our AI systems are designed for real-time performance. For example, our AI locker uses edge-based processing with high-speed facial recognition. The entire process happens in real time without any delay.
Q: How do you train and update your AI models?
A: We do most of the training in a PC (personal computer) environment using datasets that reflect our target demographic; in our case, initially, Indian users. We gather a variety of images under different lighting conditions and train the models to recognise faces or other inputs accurately. Once the models reach a reliable accuracy level, around 94 per cent, we deploy them onto our embedded systems. We continue to monitor performance and can retrain or optimise models as needed, especially when expanding to other regions.
Q: Do you also support sensor-based inspection, like with vibration or temperature?
A: While our AI systems are primarily vision-based, we also integrate sensor-based monitoring through traditional electronic systems. For example, we have delivered a defence solution using thermal imaging for night surveillance. If clients provide specific sensors, we can integrate and process the data using our systems.
Q: Can your devices run AI models without needing cloud connectivity?
A: Yes, our devices, such as the AI locker, run AI models locally on high-performance system-on-chip processors. These processors have multiple cores, allowing one core to manage the display and another to process AI tasks. This makes our solutions faster and removes dependence on internet speed or cloud platforms.
Q: Tell us about your gateway and node-based SCADA solution for energy systems.
A: We developed a complete hardware and software solution with Microsyslogic Gateway and Microsyslogic Nodes. Each gateway can support up to 25 nodes, and each node can handle around 20 sensors. Communication can be either wireless (RF) or wired using RS-485. Data collected by the nodes is sent to the gateway, which then pushes it to the cloud. The processed data is visualised on a local display unit, enabling real-time monitoring of energy systems such as solar panels or thermal plants.
Q: Does your system support predictive maintenance?
A: Yes, our system can support predictive maintenance, especially in energy systems. For example, it can identify unusual downtime patterns in solar panels or predict anomalies using temperature or usage data. We can customise this further based on the client’s needs.
Q: How do you ensure consistent value delivery to customers?
A: We work closely with customers to understand their exact requirements and pain points. We begin with a proof-of-concept and proceed only once the customer is satisfied. This ensures that we deliver both functional and valuable solutions. Our ability to handle both hardware and software in-house allows us to provide highly customised products efficiently.
Q: What marketing strategies do you use to increase visibility and reach?
A: We participate in exhibitions like the Electronics For You Expo to showcase products and gather feedback. We also promote through LinkedIn, Instagram, WhatsApp, industry groups, and my 28-year professional network.
Q: How do you use customer feedback to improve your marketing and products?
A: During exhibitions, we present multiple products and monitor which ones receive the most interest. For example, our AI locker and SCADA systems received strong feedback, so we have focused more on those. We also gather feature requests and suggestions, which we incorporate into future iterations to better align with market needs.
Q: How do you position your products to appeal to different market segments?
A: We position our products as highly customisable, intelligent solutions built for Indian industries. Unlike imported systems, we offer full flexibility in both design and implementation. For example, our AI locker is tailored for Indian lighting conditions and user behaviour, making it more effective and reliable locally.
Q: What steps are you taking to grow and manage partnerships?
A: As the founder, my strategy is to differentiate from competitors by offering value-added solutions that address specific customer pain points. We avoid copying existing products and instead focus on what is missing in the market. For example, in our energy system product, we included features that competitors overlooked but are critical for solar panel monitoring in Indian conditions.
Q: What are your strategies to acquire new customers?
A: We are selective in the products we develop and avoid spreading ourselves too thin. We focus on niche but scalable solutions like AI lockers and energy system monitors. When customers approach us, we evaluate the feasibility and only commit if we can offer a superior, differentiated solution.
Q: What is the importance of digital marketing and having a website today?
A: Digital marketing is essential. It allows us to showcase our products beyond personal networks and reach clients across different sectors. A single product like our SCADA system could be relevant to multiple industries, and digital channels help potential users discover that. It is a vital tool for visibility and growth.
Q: What are your future plans for expansion?
A: We plan to expand our portfolio in two main areas: intelligent AI camera systems and home automation. We see a growing need for more innovative vision-based solutions, and most of what is currently available lacks advanced intelligence. Our goal is to fill that gap with embedded AI. We also see strong potential in customised smart home devices.
Q: Can you share your recent fiscal performance and growth expectations?
A: Our revenue is currently moderate, driven mainly by defence and industrial projects. With market-ready products now in place, we are gaining traction, attracting large enterprises, and expect strong growth ahead. Rising demand for intelligent embedded solutions, combined with our dual hardware-software capability, positions us well to capture this market.
