Vishakapatnam: Andhra University on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a new start-up Garudalytics launched in the campus by a university alumnus.
A Telangana-based start-up, Garudalytics specialises in using location intelligence to solve spatial issues using insights from location data.
“Garudalytics is essential for GIS application software development, especially for drone technologies,” Andhra University vice chancellor Prof P.V.G.D. Prasad Reddy informed engineering students and faculty on the occasion of signing the MoU.
Garudalytics and Andhra University will jointly explore potential areas for industry and academic collaboration on research projects, skill development training, faculty development programmes, internships, infrastructure upgrades and other facilities.
The vice chancellor pointed out that Garudalytics is currently accepting 30+ students for internships. It has already hired some geo engineering students. Automated drones, machine intelligence drones and many more operations similar to those in developed countries could mean the 4th industrial revolution, Prof Prasad Reddy observed.
Drone technology advanced mainly during the Covid-19 pandemic. UAVs and other sensor-based devices had been widely deployed then.
The VC said five helipads will be built in AU Engineering College very soon to facilitate training in drone operations.
“We have further plans to make AU compete with IITs and reputable national universities. Now is the perfect time for students from all disciplines to showcase their abilities,” Prof Prasad Reddy underlined.
According to Prof Vazeer Mahammood, head of geo-engineering department, AU and Garudalytics will work on industry-academia collaborative research projects with high-calibre resources from AU. They are developing course curricula for degree and diploma certificate programmes for students from numerous disciplines, not just those studying geoinformatics.
