Tell us something about yourself, and your background:
- Devan Chandrasekharan is a deep-tech entrepreneur and innovator specializing in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), robotics, and IoT-driven systems. As the Founder and Managing Director of Fuselage Innovations, he leads the end-to-end design, development, and deployment of indigenous drone platforms and AI-enabled solutions across agriculture, industrial, and maritime sectors.
Under his leadership, Fuselage Innovations has successfully developed DGCA-certified drones, secured manufacturing licenses from DRDO, and executed strategic collaborations with national institutions including Cochin Shipyard Limited, DRDO, NPOL, NABARD, and the State Agriculture Departments of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Mizoram.
His maritime innovation initiatives supported by Cochin Shipyard Limited, IIT Madras, and the Sagarmala Startup Initiative focus on solving complex real-world challenges through scalable, sustainable, and policy-aligned technologies.
List your ventures with a brief explanation of each:
- Fuselage Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
Founder & Chairman
A deep-tech UAV and robotics company focused on precision agriculture, industrial drones, and maritime robotics.
Key work includes DGCA-certified agriculture drones (FIA QD series), AI-driven crop analytics, façade-cleaning drones, and the Rotor Assisted Launch and Recovery System (LARS) developed with Cochin Shipyard and DRDO for safe heavy-payload launch and recovery in dynamic marine environments. - Fuselage AgriGenesis ( Subsidiary)
Managing Director
An agriculture-focused vertical under Fuselage Innovations delivering Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), crop surveillance, spraying, and data-backed agronomy support.
Designed to serve small and marginal farmers through scalable, affordable deployments in collaboration with government programs, NABARD, and state agriculture departments. - Speranza PlastiCrafts Pvt. Ltd.
Co-Founder / Director (Group Venture)
A precision manufacturing and sustainable plastics company operating from Maker Village, Kochi.
Specializes in biodegradable plastics, precision mold design, product development, and jigs & fixtures for automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial clients. Also works on converting non-recyclable plastic waste into usable products such as interlock tiles and building components. - Fuselage Flying Club (Subsidiary)
Managing Director
Establishment of DGCA-compliant Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO) infrastructure to train drone pilots, technicians, and agriculture professionalssupporting India’s UAV ecosystem and skilling requirements.
How did you get to where you are? What set you off?
- The journey began at home. Ambika Chandrasekharan, a farmer from Kerala’s Alappuzha district and my mother, faced severe hardships following the devastating floods of 2017–18. The floods washed away vital soil nutrients, disrupted cropping cycles, and led to heavy yield losses—challenges that thousands of farmers across the region were grappling with.
- Around the same time, I had just completed my graduation in aeronautical engineering. Watching our family farmland struggle, I felt a strong urge to apply what I had learned in a practical, immediate way. Instead of relying solely on traditional soil testing, I began experimenting with drones to prescribe crops based on plant characteristics and field-level conditions. After a few successful trials, it became clear that this approach could offer faster, more actionable insights for farmers. Driven by this need, and supported by my sister Devika Chandrasekharan, we founded Fuselage Innovations in 2020.
- Fuselage Innovations specialises in developing technologies built on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence. Our focus is on solving real-world challenges across agriculture, post-natural disaster management, infrastructure monitoring, and environmental conservation. In agriculture, we help farmers improve efficiency and sustainability through advanced farmland mapping and diagnostics using dedicated UAV platforms.
- So far, we have introduced two core solutions. The DGCA-certified FIA QD10 precision spraying drone has played a key role in improving crop health and pest management through accurate, targeted applications. The Nireeksh surveillance drone, equipped with multispectral sensors, enables detailed crop monitoring and vegetative analysis, helping farmers make informed, data-driven decisions.
- The early years were far from easy. Funding and infrastructure were constant hurdles. I approached several angel investors and venture capitalists, but many declined, citing the lack of a strong support ecosystem for hardware startups. Eventually, I turned to the banking system and secured a ₹7.5 lakh loan to keep things moving. Through steady execution and field adoption, we crossed a major milestone last year, achieving a turnover of ₹10 crore. Today, Fuselage Innovations operates from Maker Village in Kochi, India’s largest electronics incubator.
- The real turning point, however, was not funding or awards—it was field exposure. Seeing farmers respond to drone interventions, watching systems behave unpredictably under wind, load, and marine conditions, and realizing that theory rarely survives real-world deployment forced a fundamental shift in mindset. We learned to build technology that works outside the lab, not just on paper.
- One of the ongoing challenges remains creating opportunities to deploy our solutions within existing ecosystems. Despite meeting all Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Government of India certifications, our drones are often overlooked in state government schemes due to traditional procurement mindsets and slow adoption of new technologies.
- The impact on the ground has been encouraging. Farmers using Fuselage’s solutions have reported up to a 30 percent increase in crop productivity and nearly a 70 percent reduction in crop management costs. Looking ahead, we aim to scale these interventions further and continue developing innovative solutions to address deeper challenges such as soil degradation and water scarcity.
- What has truly sustained this journey is consistency over confidence. There were moments of doubt, regulatory hurdles, and technical dead ends. But every iteration—every prototype, every failed test—brought clarity. Collaborating closely with government bodies, shipyards, and research institutions strengthened our discipline and raised our standards, shaping Fuselage Innovations into what it is today.
Tell us a bit more about each of your ventures:
- We, at Fuselage Innovations, are excited to propose before the esteemed August panel the Integrated Deployment of Nireeksh AG and FIA Agricultural Drones, an ideal solution for precision farming.
The Nireeksh AG drone, equipped with advanced spectral sensors and a 30-minute flight time, can capture crop data from heights up to 100 meters, covering up to 100 acres per hour. This data enables detailed plant health assessments and precision prescriptions. - Our FIA Drone, with a capacity range of 10–30 liters, utilizes GIS data from Nireeksh to perform ultra-fine spraying or controlled input spreading, covering 1 acre in just 7 minutes. Together, these drones provide a comprehensive, data-driven solution to optimize agricultural efficiency and crop yields.
The adoption of our drone technology stands to make a substantial impact on both the local economy and environment. With support projected for over 8,400 farmers, our initiative could generate up to $20 billion in profits. In projects, we have observed yield increases of 20–35% and a 70% reduction in agricultural input costs—an impact we are confident can be replicated in Sharjah’s wheat farms. - Our approach is also environmentally focused, aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions by 25,000 tons and reclaim 4,100 hectares of previously unproductive land affected by alkaline or acidic soil. Through ongoing soil treatments and enhanced land management, these areas can gradually be restored to productive agricultural land.
Our advanced detection systems allow stakeholders to plan farming activities before harvest, effectively reducing CO₂ emissions by 51.45 kg per hectare. Across 500,000 acres, this translates to approximately 25,000 tons in CO₂ reduction. By emphasizing sustainable practices, we are committed to ensuring that these benefits contribute long-term to agricultural prosperity.
Moving on to our product portfolio: we proudly present Nirreksh, a specialized drone designed for centimeter-level precision in monitoring crop health and uncovering critical insights directly from the fields. For efficient and targeted application, we have the FIA Q10, a dedicated ultra-low volume spraying drone engineered to be lightweight and user-friendly, ensuring seamless field operations. - Additionally, we’re introducing the FIA QD30, a versatile multipurpose drone crafted for diverse tasks, including seed shooting, spraying, seeding, and targeted delivery. Each of these drones embodies our commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity through precision and innovation
Any other information:
- The unique selling proposition (USP) of Fuselage Innovations lies in our fully integrated approach, seamlessly combining advanced UAV technology, precision agriculture, and AI-driven analytics to drive sustainable transformation in farming.
- Our standout solution, particularly the FIA drones, boasts the highest flight certification in its segment, ensuring unmatched reliability and performance. Additionally, our innovative drone fleet software consolidates all drone operations into a single, user-friendly interface, simplifying management and enhancing efficiency. This high-tech, comprehensive approach firmly positions Fuselage Innovations as a leader in sustainable agricultural solutions for both local and international markets
Website, Social Media and Video Links:
OFFERS
