Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 20 (UNI) Kochi-based startup Sastra Robotics India Private Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US global aerospace, defence security company Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, paving the way for the robots produced by the Indian venture to gain entry into avionics testing.

Mentored by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), Sastra Robotics focuses on manufacturing intelligent robotic platforms for industrial product testing automation, Mr Ashok Kurian Panjikaran, Manager, Business Development, KSUM, said in a release here on Saturday.

With the signing of MoU on Friday in Delhi, it would enable Sastra Robotics to be a supplier to Lockheed Martin and other Tier-1 OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), he added.

These products can help in the testing of avionics display of tactical fighter platforms, including the F-21.

Since 2015, global brands like Robert BOSCH, Honeywell, HCL, Audiences, and Knowles are using their robots for HMI testing automation of real physical devices.

Meanwhile, the US firm also signed MoUs with Chennai-based startup Terero Mobility, and Bengaluru-based startup NoPo Nanotechnologies for providing various technology services.

Commenting on the pact, Mr. Vivek Lall, Vice President for Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, said: “The agreements attest to the commitment of Lockheed Martin to cultivate and integrate indigenous content into global systems and platforms."

"Through the agreement, we look to provide engineering support, mentoring, and assistance in the qualification of some of the technologies proposed, all of which contribute to our mission of making in India,” he added.

“Kerala has a pool of scale up startups and we find startups getting recognized by the industries on the quality of their products. Initiatives like the India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP) help startups get connected with industries and we really look forward for more industries to be part of the Kerala startup ecosystem,” Mr Panjikaran said

KSUM is the nodal agency of Government of Kerala for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.

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