SRM University-AP unveils student-built air taxi ‘DOXI’
SRM University-AP has unveiled DOXI, an indigenous electric air taxi developed by a team of B. Tech students under the guidance of Pradyut Kumar Sanki
SRM University-AP has unveiled DOXI, an indigenous electric air taxi developed by a team of B. Tech students under the guidance of Pradyut Kumar Sanki, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Center for Drone Technology (CDT) of the university. The launch featured a live flight demonstration attended by A.P. State Quantum Mission Director C.V. Sridhar, Vice-Chancellor Ch. Satish Kumar, Dean of Research Ranjit Thapa and members of the university community. Developed by Team Skyworks, DOXI is a 16-motor electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft built on a lightweight carbon-fibre frame.
The prototype can carry a payload of up to 80 kg, reach speeds of 50 kmph, and operate for up to 25 minutes per flight, with an estimated operating cost of ₹3.5 per kilometre. The aircraft is designed for a range of applications, including urban air mobility, air ambulance services, disaster relief, and emergency response operations. The project integrates aerospace engineering, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, automated flight control, and communication technologies. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Sridhar highlighted the platform’s potential applications in infrastructure monitoring, forest analysis, and rescue operations, while Prof. Satish Kumar described the project as a reflection of the university’s innovation-driven approach.
Sanki said the achievement demonstrated the impact of mentorship, infrastructure, and a supportive research environment in fostering technological innovation. Team Skyworks comprised Manikanta (Founder, Team Lead and Chief Test Pilot), Ajit Kumar (Co-Lead), Sai Sankar (Software Engineer), Ch Manikanta (Testing Engineer and Documentation Engineer), K Manoj Kumar (Power Electronics Engineer), J
Sai Deekshith (Avionics Engineer), Ashwith (Avionics Engineer), B Ramprasad Reddy (Embedded Systems Engineer), Agastya Pandey (Software Engineer) and Sanjay (CAD Design Engineer). The university administrators said DOXI represents their commitment to indigenous technology development and aligns with the objectives of the Make in India initiative and the future of advanced urban mobility.
The BriefWire