Soon after winning the Boeing HorizonX India Innovation Challenge (BHIIC), the city-based startups, Merxius and ZestIOT, are busy working on their collaboration with the aviation giant.
While the former is engaged in harnessing the potential of extended reality (XR), which encapsulates virtual, augmented and mixed realities, the latter is busy using Internet of Things (IoT), a network which comprises devices connected to one another by means of the Internet, to bring about an increase in airline efficiency.
Merxius’ offering
Founded by Vaishali Neotia and Hasan Ali Khan in 2011, the startup will now offer its XR platform RED for creating training programmes for experts at Boeing.
“Let’s say that one has to be trained to perform certain procedures in an aircraft. At times, it’s not possible to have the actual equipment there. It can also be expensive. The idea is to simulate an environment close to reality for training,” says Mr. Khan.
So how does the RED work? According to Mr. Khan, RED is a drag-and-drop platform which will create the required environment. “We will provide the platform to Boeing teams and engineers,” he says. The thrust, Ms. Neotia adds, is to minimise human error and maximise productivity.
But while Merxius is excited to work with Boeing, Ms. Neotia opines that the adoption of new technologies, including XR, in India seems sluggish for a variety of reasons, including high electronic hardware costs and duties. She explains that Merxius had taken on loan two Hololens, Microsoft’s holographic computer, from a client, but are unable to use them on account of exorbitant customs duties.
“We couldn’t buy the Hololens as they’re expensive. Later, a company agreed to lend their devices to us. But the customs is asking for ₹1.5 lakh to clear them. We explained to them that it is for research and would be returned after three moths, but they are refusing to listen to us. According to them, no exemption is possible,” Ms. Neotia says.
ZestIOT’s pitch
A T-Hub incubated startup, ZestIOT leveraged its experience of working with leading airlines to make its pitch at the BHIIC. “Imagine how simple things would be for both airlines and passengers if the aircraft, ground operations such as baggage loading and unloading, terminal operations and passenger boarding were connected. This is what we are doing through IOT. The idea is to predict and avoid operation delays and have a quicker turn-around-time,” ZestIOT founder Amit Sukhija says.
While the company was founded in Gurugram, Mr. Sukhija says it was in December 2016 that it was identified by the T-Hub for incubation.
Mr. Sukhija says the company will work with Tapestry Solutions, a Boeing subsidiary, which will assist it to grow. “They have invited us to have discussions with potential customers. I will be travelling to meet them next month,” he says. The company has worked with Air India and airports as well.
