Former ISRO Chairman expresses concern over competence and capability of start-ups to innovate in aerospace

Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath on Thursday expressed concern over the competence and capability to innovate among start-ups and companies working in the domain of aerostructures.

Speaking at the International Conference on Advances in Computational and Experimental Approaches in Aerostructures, Mr. Somanath said, “I think it is a point of concern to me because I have been going around the country and looking at start-ups and companies who have been designing aerospace structures. Concerning hardwares, especially in the domain of aerospace structures, I am not seeing that type of competence or that type of capability to innovate or do things differently than in the past.”

He added that classical approaches still continue and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in practice is not happening.

“Possibly some of you might differ with me, but the classical approaches still continue though you talk about data driven models. The AI integration of this is being talked about in practice but not happening. Of course, it is happening in the domain of companies who are coming out with solutions because multi-physics problem-solving software is coming in our midst and using it to find solutions has become a routine,” he added.

Mr. Somanath also said that he has also not been able to see much progress around digital twins in the aerostructures sector.

On digital twins

“They also talk about digital twins, but I am not able to see digital twins in these domains (aerostructures) on a scale that should have actually happened. Why is it not happening? I think this is a question that we need to ask. It may be happening in academics and on a small-scale level, but on a larger scale it is still not visible in institutions where they are actually practicing it. So, I think the conferences should debate, discuss what are the limitations and why collaboration is not happening among people with those types of skills in building at least some models,” Mr. Somanath said.