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When GPS signals fail, a drone can lose its sense of direction. To address this challenge, two BITS Hyderabad students have developed an indigenous navigation system designed to help drones operate when satellite signals are unavailable or disrupted by interference. For Naman Kasliwal and Shiv Patil, the idea did not begin on a battlefield. It began with a question: How would a drone navigate on Mars, where GPS signals are unavailable?
The two BITS Hyderabad students initially set out to develop navigation technology for drones that could operate on the Red Planet. Without a GPS satellite network like the one available on Earth, such drones would need an alternative way to determine their position and navigate their surroundings.
During their research, an Indian Army officer identified a different, more immediate application for the technology: helping military drones navigate in environments where GPS signals are deliberately jammed or disrupted.
That conversation prompted the students to explore how their vision-based navigation technology could be adapted for military use on Earth. It eventually led to the development of the Beijan Autonomous Navigation Module, developed by their startup, Beijan. The technology has since undergone trials at military locations, including Secunderabad and Leh, and has been demonstrated before the Indian Army's Southern Command.
According to Kasliwal, CEO and co-founder of Beijan, three modules were subsequently taken for further field-testing in Pokhran, while officials from eight other military units have expressed interest in the technology.
Kasliwal said the team's original goal was to solve a navigation problem for drones operating on Mars. "We initially set out to solve a very different problem: developing navigation systems for drones operating on Mars, where GPS doesn't exist," he adds.
The technology took a more immediate direction after an Army officer highlighted its potential use in military operations, particularly in areas where satellite-based navigation may be unavailable or deliberately disrupted.
The Beijan Autonomous Navigation Module works as a secondary navigation system that relies on visual information captured by cameras mounted on the drone.
Instead of depending entirely on satellite positioning, the system processes visual data from the surrounding environment to estimate movement and support navigation decisions.
Kasliwal says Beijan developed its own proprietary visual navigation software and optimised it to run on smaller and lighter hardware. "The module acts as a secondary source of navigation that relies entirely on vision data gathered from onboard cameras," he further adds.
The focus, he explains, was not simply on developing autonomous navigation but also on making the technology practical and cost-effective to integrate into existing drone platforms.
Building a working prototype was only the beginning. According to Kasliwal, the bigger challenge was turning the technology into a system capable of operating reliably under demanding field conditions.
Trials in locations such as Leh presented difficult terrain and environmental conditions. The team had to improve the system's reliability, accuracy and stability while ensuring that it could be integrated with different drone platforms.
"The biggest hurdle was taking the technology from a working prototype to a battle-ready system the Army could actually use," Kasliwal explains. The team has therefore focused on making the module "plug-and-play", allowing it to be integrated into different drones without requiring manufacturers to develop an entirely new navigation system.
The founders say their experience in competitive robotics played an important role in shaping Beijan. While studying at BITS Hyderabad, Kasliwal and Patil were part of the robotics team Thriveforce. The team finished second in a robotics competition at IIT Bombay, competing against teams with international experience.
Kasliwal describes that experience as a turning point. "The incredible technical culture at BITS Hyderabad gave us the foundation and confidence to tackle incredibly difficult problem statements," he emphasises.
Competing under pressure also taught the team resilience and how to build robust systems, an experience that later proved useful while developing Beijan's navigation technology. The startup also received a Rs 25 lakh grant through Curiosity-2025, an event held at IIT Gandhinagar, which supported its early development.
The technology has been developed largely in India, with its software architecture and system integration built by the team. Kasliwal says the only major off-the-shelf imported component currently used is the single-board computer (SBC), which the company is planning to replace with a locally developed alternative.
Robotics and artificial intelligence from the core of the system. AI processes visual information captured by the drone's onboard cameras to support autonomous navigation when conventional positioning systems are unavailable.
The broader objective, according to Kasliwal, is to make advanced navigation intelligence available as a module that drone manufacturers can integrate into different platforms.
According to Kasliwal, one of the gaps Beijan is attempting to address is the lack of readily deployable navigation solutions that can operate independently of GPS across different types of drones.
He also says that relying solely on inertial navigation can be problematic for multi-rotor drones because positioning errors can accumulate over time, eventually causing the aircraft to drift away from its intended path.
Beijan's approach is to separate navigation intelligence from the drone's airframe, allowing manufacturers to integrate the technology into different platforms.
"Our core philosophy is to 'democratise intelligence'," Kasliwal says, explaining that manufacturers should be able to integrate the navigation technology in much the same way they use standard motors or GPS modules.
The technology has moved beyond laboratory demonstrations. The founders have tested their systems at military locations, including Secunderabad and Leh, and demonstrated them to the Army's Southern Command.
Kasliwal says the response included further field-testing, with three of Beijan's modules taken to Pokhran for evaluation. Moreover, he also recalls feedback from a Division Commander, who indicated that if the modules perform as expected, there could be a requirement for three to four units in every platoon.
Beijan says officials from eight other military units have also expressed interest in its autonomous navigation module through Letters of Intent (LOIs).
Separately, the company's Prachand Swarm Ground Station software is currently deployed with formations under the Indian Army's Southern Command. Beijan has also developed additional applications for Army Air Defence.
However, the autonomous navigation module is still progressing towards full-system integration and final validation before any large-scale production or deployment.
The startup's early development was supported by smaller grants and non-dilutive funding. Beijan has since secured Rs 1.7 crore from the AJVC fund, according to Kasliwal.
The capital is being used to accelerate research and development, expand field trials, strengthen engineering and product capabilities, and prepare the technology for manufacturing and larger-scale deployment.
The company has also been awarded a Rs 25 lakh Curiosity-2026 grant, which Kasliwal says is yet to be disbursed.
The next phase will focus on integrating Beijan's navigation modules into complete drone systems. The startup is exploring two routes: partnering with established drone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or procuring existing drone platforms, integrating its technology and supplying the Army with complete systems.
Following integration, the company will undertake further validation with the Army to ensure that the systems meet its operational requirements.
Beijan's ambitions extend beyond GPS-independent drone navigation. Kasliwal says the startup has also tested an artillery firing solution with the Indian Army's Northern Command, aimed at improving the accuracy and precision of artillery targeting.
The company is now working on AI-driven targeting and decision-support technologies that could eventually be applied across multiple areas of defence.
"Our long-term goal is to integrate advanced AI and intelligent decision-support systems across multiple facets of military operations, not just flight navigation," he further explains.
The broader vision is to use AI to help the armed forces improve precision, reduce the number of rounds required to achieve an intended effect and make military systems more responsive and efficient.
Beijan's immediate focus is integrating its navigation module into complete drone systems and securing final Army validation. The startup is exploring partnerships with established drone manufacturers to take the technology closer to deployment.
What began as an attempt to solve a navigation challenge on Mars has now evolved into a defence technology venture. While the system is still undergoing testing, the journey highlights how student-led research can translate into real-world applications beyond the university laboratory.
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