Kochi-based drone startup Fuselage Innovations manufactures agricultural drones and AI solutions for crop growth analysis and predictions…
Established in 2020 by Devan and Devika Chandrasekharan, Fuselage Innovations Private Limited focuses on integrating drones and IoT solutions within the agri-tech sector.
Devan explains that the company’s name, ‘Fuselage Innovations,’ is derived from the fuselage—the central structure of an aircraft that houses passengers and cargo. This name symbolises the critical role of coordination among aircraft components, mirroring the company’s innovative approach and the integration of various elements in its solutions.
The startup’s agricultural drones and AI solutions are designed to assist farmers in planning their activities and following precision farming protocols tailored to specific crops. Beyond agriculture, Fuselage Innovations also engages in defence projects, collaborating with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and working on initiatives for shipyards.
Under the Make in India initiative, Fuselage Innovations has developed indigenous drones. Their surveillance drone, designed for data analysis, is named Nireeksh AG, while their crop-spraying drone, certified by the Civil Aviation Department, is known as FIA QD10. Additionally, they offer tracking devices to monitor drone performance, with a platform that applies this technology to agricultural machinery. This system prevents unauthorised transfers between states and ensures compliance and security. The company has developed an integrated approach between its two drones, patenting the entire product design and device.
Their Nireeksh drone has a multispectral range of sensors that capture plant data and processes it into 2D and 3D maps. These maps are further analysed to create index maps, such as vegetation index data, allowing visualisation and understanding of crop growth stages and stress levels. Based on this data, they design and share prescriptions with the spraying drone FIA QD10, which accurately controls and targets applications to address specific crop deficiencies. While the FIA QD10 can operate independently with high accuracy, it functions effectively in integrated operations.
Fuselage Innovations develops the frame structures, power distribution boards, CAN boards, propellers, tanks, envelopes, and the software platform in-house. However, some critical components that must meet aeronautical standards rely on imports. They handle approximately 60% of their development in-house, outsource around 30%, and import the remaining 10%.
The company’s primary target audience includes stakeholders from the food and cash crop sectors, particularly those involved in mono-crop-based farming. Additionally, they focus on stakeholders in the food and cash flow industry who align with farmers’ producer organisations (FPO)s. “We also collaborate with stakeholders from fertiliser companies, such as IFFCO and FACT, which align with their organisational perspectives,” explains Devan.
The startup employs three primary strategies for its drones. First, it sells drones directly to farmers, who can offer drone services to others, becoming entrepreneurs. Second, it offers a service model for those who cannot afford the technology, charging `1000 to `5000 per acre for spraying and aerial mapping. Third, it expands through a dealer network. It partners with Kerala Agro Machinery Corporation (KAMCO) for Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the northeastern states, as well as DroneHub Technologies for Andhra Pradesh and Intel Agro Solutions for Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana.
The startup offers two pricing packages for its drones. The standard pack, priced at ₹500,000, includes one drone, one set of batteries, one charger, propellers, insurance, a one-year warranty, and an aluminium case. The combo pack, priced at `900,000, includes one drone, five sets of batteries, two extra chargers, additional nozzles, extra propellers, a one-year insurance policy, training, an aluminium case, and a one-year warranty.
As a startup working in the domain of sustainable agriculture, Fuselage is supported by UNDP India through its India High Range Mountain Landscape (IHRML) project in Kerala, with the GEF, Green Innovation Fund, and Haritha Kerala Mission. Fuselage Innovations provided UAV/drone solutions for a specific tribal area. The pilot method of optimisation by Fuselage Innovations in one of the tribal areas in Idukki District, Kerala, resulted in significant savings in nutrient consumption of over 50% and an increase in yield by over 28%.
The startup employs 35 staff members and operates out of Kochi within Maker Village, one of India’s largest electronic incubators. Fuselage Innovations currently has a monthly production capacity of 250 drones, with sales averaging 50 per month and 160 drones sold so far.
While highlighting the challenges, Devan shares that currently, the startup faces challenges due to a lack of skilled manpower and inadequate infrastructure, with 30-40% of resources procured externally. As market demand increases, they aim to address these infrastructure issues.
The company has recently expanded its operations to Canada and the UK, with the incorporation process completed in Canada and registration finalised in the UK. It is also in discussions with an agricultural university in the UK, marking the beginning of its overseas expansion.
Fuselage Innovations is incorporated with various organisations, including RPTOs, skill development centres, and Mahatma Gandhi University, to provide training for its customers’ stakeholders. The startup is also associated with PCB Aero Hub, which plays a vital role in training its stakeholders.
Fuselage Innovations received DGCA certification in late November 2023 and has sold around 70 drones across India. Initially, most demand came from Kerala, but recently, there has been increased interest from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
In 2022, the company achieved a business turnover of ₹15 million. For 2023-24, this figure has risen to ₹55 million. Over the next two years, Fuselage Innovations aims to reach ₹350 million in business. Before 2022, the company primarily offered spraying services and crop analysis as part of a service model.
