- Enhancing Airport Safety and Efficiency
By Sangeeta Saxena
New Delhi. 11 December 2024. Recently at Indi Airport 2024 two products which have been developed under the AI startup policy with a grant from the Government of India, were cynosure of all eyes. The first product the SmartDock AI which is currently all set to be deployed across nine airports of India 122 units, which is the largest order of VTGS by AI to any vendor in the world. In this space it is competing with Honeywell, ThyssenKrupp and ADV Safegate. At the Indi Airport Expo, Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU) had the opportunity to engage with Nate Srinath N, Founder Director of INXEE Systems Private Limited, a Gurgaon-based electronics manufacturing company specializing in indigenous aviation technology. In this conversation, Nate sheds light on the company’s innovative products, their applications in the aviation industry, and future prospects.
ADU. What is INXEE Systems all about ?
Nate Srinath. INXEE Systems Private Limited is an electronics manufacturing company based in Gurgaon, focused on developing indigenous products for the aviation sector. An embedded electronics firm which provides both domestic and foreign markets with high-quality embedded development and support services, has made inroads into the aviation sector. With design, development, manufacture, installation, and maintenance services covering anything from whole embedded systems to individual hardware and software components, INXEE provides embedded hardware and software solutions to its clients in this sector.
ADU. What products are you showcasing at the Expo here ?
Nate Srinath. We are showcasing two of our indigenously developed products, SmartDock AI, an aircraft docking system and W-ILCMS, which stands for Wireless and Wired Individual Lamp Control and Monitoring System.
ADU. Can you elaborate on these products and their functions?
Nate Srinath. SmartDock AI is a next-generation Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS). It uses multiple sensors, including LIDAR, to identify aircraft and guide them to the stand safely, eliminating the need for marshals. This ensures no collisions with nearby objects or adjacent aircraft. It’s equipped with AI to identify aircraft types, such as distinguishing between an A320 and an A350, which is critical for operational safety. W-ILCMS is a system is used by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to control and monitor airfield lights. It enhances safety for aircraft from the landing point to the parking bay and vice versa for take-off. This system is especially useful in Category 3 conditions where precision and automation are crucial.
ADU. Have these products been deployed at airports in India?
Nate Srinath. Yes, they have. SmartDock AI is being deployed at nine Indian airports with a total of 122 units, which represents the largest order for VTGS by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to any vendor globally. W-ILCMS has been tested at Amritsar Airport and will soon be commercially deployed across multiple airports.
ADU. Which types of aircraft can dock using SmartDock system?
Nate Srinath. At Kolkata’s NSCBI Airport, SmartDock has been successfully installed and has docked a variety of aircraft, including the A320, A321, A319, A20N, A21N, B737-800, B737-800 Max, and B738. Larger aircraft have also undergone successful testing, including the A330, A350, B747, B777, and B787-800. The technology improves pilots’ situational awareness and accuracy during the docking process by using a combination of sensors, cameras, and sophisticated AI-based computer algorithms to give them real-time assistance, feedback, and visualization.
ADU. Which other airports are expected to get the system installed?
Nate Srinath. It will be installed at airports in Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Chennai, Chandigarh, Goa, Patna, Srinagar and Bhubaneshwar in addition to Kolkata. And let me tell you it will be hundred percent efficient and useful in heavy rain, snow and fog.
ADU. What role does AI play in the SmartDock AI system?
Nate Srinath. AI plays a critical role in identifying the type of aircraft to prevent operational hazards, such as docking an unscheduled aircraft. Monitoring events like chocks-on and chocks-off, as well as the engagement and disengagement of passenger boarding bridges (PBB). Enhancing overall safety by automating and streamlining docking operations is it’s role. When an aerobridge or other moving aircraft is approaching to dock, the AI-enabled software can identify any obstructions in its path, including ground vehicles that might cross its path. It features a built-in system that can tell a pilot to halt in an emergency to try to prevent a crash.
ADU. How can we explain it for the common man?
Nate Srinath. LIDAR is nothing but a laser sensor and what that does is, it identifies the aircraft first and it guides the aircraft to the stand properly without any marshal so that the aircraft doesn’t collide with any object or multiple aircrafts which are adjacent to each other. AI is a technology which we use To identify the aircraft type. For example, let’s say we have scheduled an A320 To come to the particular gate but all of a sudden by mistake an A350 pulls up. The risk is that the A350 is a much larger aircraft and we cannot allow a system to dock A350 when it is not scheduled for docking, potentially avoiding a hazardous condition. That is why AI is used to identify the aircraft type. It is used to identify events like when the chocks on and off events are happening it is used to identify the engagement and disengagement of the PBB which is the Passenger Boarding Bridge and other events on the aircraft for safety.
ADU. Are these your first products in the aviation sector, or have you introduced others?
Nate Srinath. These are our first two products in the aviation segment. However, we are already working on three to four additional products, which we plan to introduce next year. Our current focus is to educate the market about these innovations and establish their use across Indian and global airports.
ADU. Are these products applicable to the defence sector as well?
Nate. Srinath. Absolutely. These products are valid for defence applications. While we haven’t yet established significant interactions with the Indian Air Force, Army, or Coast Guard, we’ve had inquiries during this event and see strong potential for collaboration in the future.
ADU. Is INXEE looking to expand its presence globally?
Nate Srinath. Yes, we plan to export these products globally. With successful deployments in Indian airports, we aim to position INXEE as a leader in innovative, indigenous aviation solutions on the international stage.
ADU. Anything you’d like to add?
Nate Srinath. I encourage airport operators and stakeholders to visit INXEE.com to learn more about our products. We are eager to collaborate with airport authorities and operators to enhance safety and efficiency in aviation.
INXEE Systems is carving its niche in the aviation sector with cutting-edge, indigenous technology. With products like SmartDock AI and W-ILCMS, the company is setting benchmarks for safety, efficiency, and automation in Indian airports, with ambitions to expand into global markets. Their efforts signify a leap toward making India self-reliant in aviation technology while contributing to global aviation innovation.
As told to Sangeeta Saxena.
