Chandigarh University Aerospace Students to Develop UAVs for Border Surveillance With Johnnette Technologies
Chandigarh University students who emerged as winners in the Aerial Ops–Drone Challenge at Build Summit 2026 are set to work on unmanned aerial vehicles for border-surveillance applications in collaboration with Johnnette Technologies Private Limited. The industry-linked project was announced as part of Chandigarh University's Engineers' Day programme, connecting student drone engineering with a company already active in India's tactical UAV and surveillance ecosystem.
The initiative emerged from the university's newly launched Build Summit 2026, held under the theme “Innovating for Bharat.”
The event brought together engineering students and industry professionals across fields including aerospace, drones, mobility, semiconductors, cybersecurity, agriculture, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
Chandigarh University UAV Project: Key Facts
| Initiative | UAV Development for Border Surveillance |
| University | Chandigarh University |
| Industry Partner | Johnnette Technologies Private Limited |
| Origin | Aerial Ops–Drone Challenge |
| Event | Build Summit 2026 |
| Theme | Innovating for Bharat |
| Focus | Applied UAV design and surveillance technology |
Who Won the Aerial Ops Drone Challenge?
The challenge results included:
- First prize – Harry Tanwar
- Second prize – Arush Singh
- Third prize – Navjosh Singh and Anurag
The winning entries are now expected to move from competition activity into an industry-linked UAV development project.
Johnnette Technologies Is the Industry Collaboration Partner
The company operates in India's unmanned-aircraft ecosystem and has worked on tactical drones designed for surveillance applications.
This means students will potentially gain exposure to requirements beyond a college drone race.
A Competition Drone and a Surveillance UAV Are Very Different
A competition drone may primarily be judged on:
- Speed
- Control
- Obstacle handling
A surveillance platform can require additional capabilities involving:
- Endurance
- Stable imaging
- Communications
- Navigation
- Reliability
What Is a UAV?
UAV stands for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
It describes an aircraft operating without a pilot physically seated inside it.
Not Every UAV Is the Same
Platforms can include:
- Multirotor drones
- Fixed-wing aircraft
- Hybrid VTOL systems
Multirotor Drones
These systems can:
- Hover
- Take off vertically
- Operate in compact spaces
Fixed-Wing UAVs
Fixed-wing systems can often provide longer endurance and broader-area coverage than small multirotors, depending on design.
Border Surveillance Creates Complex Engineering Requirements
A platform intended for surveillance may need to deal with:
- Long distances
- Difficult terrain
- Wind
- Low visibility
- Communication constraints
Cameras Are Central to Surveillance UAVs
Payloads can include:
- Daylight cameras
- Thermal cameras
- Stabilised imaging systems
Thermal Imaging Can Support Night Operations
Thermal sensors detect heat patterns rather than depending only on visible light.
That can make them useful in low-light conditions.
Students Must Think About the Entire System
A UAV project involves much more than building an airframe.
It can include:
- Propulsion
- Flight controller
- Navigation
- Communication
- Ground station
- Payload
Aerospace Engineering Students Need Systems Thinking
One component can affect another.
For example, adding a heavier camera can:
- Increase aircraft weight
- Reduce endurance
- Change stability
Industry Collaboration Can Expose Students to Real Constraints
A classroom project may have flexible deadlines or specifications.
Industry projects need:
- Defined requirements
- Testing
- Documentation
- Reliability
Build Summit 2026 Was Launched on Engineers' Day
Chandigarh University used the September 15 event to bring together students and experts from:
- Energy
- Mobility
- Semiconductors
- Cybersecurity
- Agritech
- Infrastructure
The Summit Included More Than the Drone Challenge
Activities included:
- Technology exhibition
- Hackathon
- RC Off-Road Robo Race
- Aerial Ops–Drone Challenge
Innovision Displayed More Than 50 Projects
The technology exhibition showcased student work involving:
- AI and intelligent systems
- Drones
- Aerospace
- Robotics
- Sustainable mobility
- Healthcare
- MedTech
- Agri-Tech
- Cybersecurity
- Blockchain
- Advanced materials
- Nanotechnology
One Project Featured an Autonomous Drone Platform
Among the exhibits was a Made-in-Bharat autonomous drone platform presented under the AeroClairr project name.
Autonomy Is a Major UAV Research Area
Autonomous UAV research can involve:
- Path planning
- Obstacle avoidance
- Computer vision
- Navigation
But Human Oversight Remains Important
Surveillance and safety-related systems require careful control and testing.
Automation does not remove engineering responsibility.
Hackathon Included 135 Students From 16 Universities
Build Summit also hosted byteBuilt 1.0, a 24-hour innovation hackathon organised with byteXL.
It included:
- 41 teams
- 135 students
- 16 universities
MediSphere Won the Hackathon
Chandigarh University's MediSphere team developed an AI-powered healthcare platform designed for educational campuses.
The concept connected:
- Students
- Doctors
- Pharmacies
- Parents
- Emergency services
Why This Matters for Engineering Education
The summit demonstrates a broader shift from:
“Study engineering”
toward:
“Build something that solves a real problem.”
Employers Want Project Experience
Engineering recruiters increasingly value evidence that students can:
- Design
- Prototype
- Test
- Debug
- Work in teams
UAV Development Combines Multiple Engineering Disciplines
| Discipline | Role in UAV Development |
| Aerospace | Aerodynamics and airframe |
| Mechanical | Structure and mechanisms |
| Electronics | Sensors and control hardware |
| Computer Science | Autonomy and software |
| AI | Computer vision and intelligent navigation |
Students Need CAD Skills
Computer-aided design helps engineers model:
- Airframes
- Mounts
- Components
Simulation Can Reduce Prototype Failures
Before building hardware, engineers can analyse:
- Aerodynamics
- Structural loads
- Flight characteristics
Embedded Programming Is Another Valuable Skill
Students working with drones can benefit from knowledge of:
- C/C++
- Python
- Microcontrollers
- Flight-control software
Data Communication Matters
A UAV needs to exchange information with a ground operator or network.
Engineering questions include:
- Range
- Latency
- Signal reliability
- Data security
Cybersecurity Is Relevant to Drone Engineering
Connected aircraft can be exposed to digital threats.
Students therefore need awareness of:
- Secure communication
- Authentication
- Software security
UAV Regulations Also Matter
Students should understand that real-world drone operation in India is subject to aviation and regulatory requirements.
A technically functioning drone cannot simply be operated anywhere without considering applicable rules and permissions.
Engineering Ethics Matters in Surveillance Technology
Students working on surveillance systems should also understand broader issues involving:
- Privacy
- Responsible use
- Safety
- Accountability
Industry-Academia Collaboration Can Reduce the Skills Gap
Universities teach principles.
Industry exposes students to:
- Specifications
- Deadlines
- Testing standards
- Deployment realities
Projects Can Lead to Internships and Research
A strong UAV project can give students experience relevant to:
- Aerospace companies
- Drone startups
- Robotics
- Defence technology
- Autonomous systems
Students Should Build Portfolios
For every project, document:
- Problem statement
- Design choices
- Testing
- Failures
- Improvements
Employers Often Want to Know What Went Wrong
A technically mature student can explain:
- Why the first prototype failed
- How it was diagnosed
- What was changed
Build Summit Also Honoured Engineer R.K. Jain
Former Haryana PWD Chief Engineer R.K. Jain received the Bharat Nirman Samman Award during Chandigarh University's Engineers' Day event.
Experts From Multiple Industries Participated
The summit included professionals connected with:
- Department of Atomic Energy
- Micron Technology
- Ather Energy
- PRAJ Matrix
- Mahindra Farm Machinery
- Data Security Council of India
This Gives Students Exposure Beyond Their Own Discipline
An aerospace student may learn from:
- Semiconductors
- Cybersecurity
- Mobility
- Advanced manufacturing
The Future Engineer Is Increasingly Multidisciplinary
Modern products combine:
- Hardware
- Software
- AI
- Data
What Aerospace Students Can Learn From the Project
- Understand system-level engineering.
- Learn UAV regulations.
- Develop CAD and simulation skills.
- Improve embedded programming.
- Learn flight testing.
- Understand industry documentation.
- Build a professional project portfolio.
Final Takeaway
Winners of Chandigarh University's Aerial Ops–Drone Challenge will work on UAV development for border-surveillance applications in collaboration with Johnnette Technologies Private Limited.
The project emerged from Build Summit 2026, launched on Engineers' Day under the theme “Innovating for Bharat.” Harry Tanwar won first prize, Arush Singh finished second, while Navjosh Singh and Anurag shared the third-prize entry.
The collaboration is educationally significant because it moves students beyond a competition environment and toward an industry-linked engineering problem.
For aerospace students, that can mean exposure to real questions involving aerodynamics, sensors, autonomy, communications, reliability, surveillance payloads and testing.
As India's drone and autonomous-systems ecosystem expands, projects like this illustrate why engineering education is increasingly being judged not only by what students know, but by what they can design, build, test and improve.
