Harsh Zala, CEO and Founder of Aerobotics7 International, is a young innovator from Ahmedabad, India, celebrated as “India’s drone wiz.” With multiple patents, Zala began inventing at 10, creating a remote-control device for home appliances. At 14, inspired to address the dangers of undetected landmines, he developed a prototype and, after facing rejection from 12 companies, launched Aerobotics7 with family support.
Now a leader in aerospace and defense technology, Zala’s journey of innovation and resilience inspires others to believe in purpose-driven success and the power of determination.
Aerobotics7 has developed an end-to-end technology platform designed for multi-domain threat detection and neutralization, offering enhanced speed, accuracy, and safety compared to conventional methods.
The platform represents a significant advancement over traditional tools such as armored vehicles, metal detectors, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR), which have historically been used to identify obstacles and hidden threats like landmines.
With an estimated 65 million acres of land contaminated by active landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) across more than 60 countries, Aerobotics7 collaborates with governments, organizations, and military entities to address this ongoing global hazard.
You were quite young when you first became aware of the global landmine issue. What opened your eyes to this problem, and how did you realize that technology, specifically drones and AI, could provide a solution?
I’d long been obsessed with tinkering with bits of technology at home, before I discovered the issue of landmines. I used to build robots to help my mum clean the house faster, and other tools to help my school with automating the lights. When I was twelve I came across a picture of a child who’d lost both his legs to a landmine, and it was a hugely pivotal moment for me. I’d been unaware of the scale of the problem until then – there are more than 100 million active landmines worldwide – and there wasn’t a technologically advanced solution to help.
I had started building drones around the same time, and I thought, “Why don’t we use a drone that can fly and detect these mines remotely without risking the operators?”. A small amount of research had shown me that the world was still using manual, dangerous approaches to de-mining that were decades old.
The drone wasn’t the only solution though, because there are many types of non-metallic mines, so I started working on creating a sort of a radar system that would allow us to detect them. Our main solution is actually the advanced radar, sensor fusion and Machine Learning combination that we attach to drones, meaning these can be used in any conditions, including underwater.
Founding Aerobotics7 at just 14 years old must have come with unique challenges. What inspired you to take the leap into entrepreneurship, and how did you navigate the process of developing your first prototype?
Juggling school, a growing passion for technology, and starting a business was definitely challenging. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset—at 12, I founded Robosoft Group, a school-based organization where I trained undergrad and grad students in practical development for their capstone projects. This experience taught me the importance of solving real-world problems and instilled confidence in my ability to take on complex challenges.
The leap into founding Aerobotics7 came after seeing a haunting photo of a child who had lost both legs to a landmine. It was a pivotal moment that opened my eyes to the sheer scale of this global issue and the lack of technological advancements to address it. Driven by the urgency of the problem, I started developing a drone-based solution. Initially, I worked on ground-based systems, but quickly realized drones offered far greater potential. After a few prototypes of drone-based systems, I collaborated with Urvashi Kikani, a former Robosoft student and now my co-founder at Aerobotics7, leveraging her expertise in Aeronautical Engineering. Together, we continued the long journey of building advanced systems that combined computer vision, ML, radar, and autonomous technologies to solve this problem.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when founding Aerobotics7, and how did you overcome them?
Starting young came with unique hurdles. Resources were scarce—Robosoft Group helped me generate revenue to buy tools and components, but even then, I had to be resourceful. I didn’t have internet at home, so my grandfather accompanied me to an internet café as I was a minor where I spent hours almost every day downloading research papers and books to gain foundational knowledge on many aspects of engineering both hardware and software. I’d print them out and read them late into the night, using every available moment to learn and experiment.
Facing skepticism was another challenge. I reached out to nearby companies to pitch my idea but was often dismissed because I was “just a kid.” Some even said I’d need a PhD to work on this, which, while discouraging at first, ultimately fueled my determination. My parents’ trust and support were invaluable—they believed in my work, even when it meant balancing school and my passion. This combination of resilience, resourcefulness, and family support allowed me to push forward and turn challenges into stepping stones at the earliest stage.
Can you walk us through the journey from your initial concept to the development of the EAGLE A7 drone platform? What major breakthroughs helped shape your technology?
The journey started with one goal: making landmine and hidden threat detection safer, faster, and more accurate. My initial concept was a ground robot, but its limitations—terrain restrictions and lack of scalability—led me to focus on drones. My background in drone-building at Robosoft helped, but the challenge was developing a system capable of carrying detection payloads while maintaining efficiency.
Early prototypes used oscillation-based detectors for metal detection, but these had high false-positive rates and couldn’t detect non-metallic mines. This limitation sparked years of R&D into radar-based systems. A major breakthrough came when we started integrating sensor fusion and multi-modal AI a few years ago. By combining radar, Lidar, optical sensors, and advanced algorithms, we created a unified system that drastically improved detection accuracy.
Today, the EAGLE A7 platform represents the culmination of years of iterative development. The system is still under active development and testing with our partners. We’ve scheduled pilots in Ukraine for early Summer 2025 to enhance the current demining process and continue refining the platform based on field data.
This technology is recognized for being 50 times faster and safer than traditional methods for detecting landmines. What makes Aerobotics7’s drones and AI so revolutionary in this space?
Traditional landmine detection relies heavily on manual methods, which are not only slow but extremely dangerous. Aerobotics7’s technology automates and accelerates this process by combining advanced sensor fusion with AI. The drones integrate radar, Lidar, and optical sensors to create a comprehensive picture of the terrain, identifying both metallic and non-metallic threats, on-surface and buried with high precision.
Our AI-driven models are trained to analyze these multi-modal data streams in real-time, significantly reducing false positives and clearance time. The system’s modular design also allows for seamless upgrades and customization for different environments, making it adaptable to a wide range of scenarios. While still under development, the platform’s early results show its potential to redefine the landscape of demining with unmatched speed, safety, and accuracy.
What role do partnerships with international organizations and governments play in achieving Aerobotics7’s mission?
Partnerships are integral to our mission. Collaborating with governments and international organizations enables us to scale our impact and tailor our solutions to real-world needs. These partnerships provide access to critical field data, operational insights, and deployment opportunities.
Working with international demining organizations and defense departments globally has allowed us to validate and refine our technology under diverse conditions. These collaborations not only enhance our capabilities but also bring us closer to achieving our ultimate goal: saving lives and restoring freedom of movement in conflict-affected areas.
You recently won the Kluz Prize for PeaceTech. Could you begin by explaining what PeaceTech is and why it’s important?
PeaceTech refers to the use of technology to promote peace, stability, and safety in conflict zones. It involves leveraging innovation to address challenges like landmines, which threaten civilian lives and hinder economic growth in post-conflict regions.
Traditional demining and conflict resolution methods are often slow, costly, and risky. PeaceTech solutions, such as ours, offer scalable and efficient alternatives that not only save lives but also create opportunities for rebuilding communities and fostering long-term stability.
A great concept around this is “Triple-Use Technology,” introduced by Artur Kluz and Stefaan Verhulst. This framework envisions technology serving commercial, defense, and peacebuilding purposes simultaneously. By integrating peacebuilding into technological applications, can develop solutions that address multiple societal needs, enhancing both security and prosperity.
How does winning the Kluz Prize for PeaceTech impact your company’s future plans? Will this recognition enable you to expand globally?
Winning the Kluz Prize validates the years of effort we’ve invested in pioneering this technology. It opens doors to new collaborations with international organizations and accelerates our entry into key markets.
This recognition strengthens our credibility as a leader in PeaceTech, helping to forge partnerships and secure funding for global expansion.
As a young founder, what is your long-term vision for Aerobotics7?
My vision is to position Aerobotics7 as the global leader in developing platforms that transform mission-critical operations. Beyond landmine detection, I see our technology evolving into a multi-mission platform capable of tackling diverse challenges, from disaster response to critical infrastructure monitoring.
At its core, Aerobotics7 is about creating life-saving technology that empowers operators with better and faster systems. I envision a future where our innovations redefine safety and efficiency across industries, fostering a safer, more resilient, and connected world.
Looking back, what has been the most rewarding aspect of your journey so far, and what keeps you motivated to continue pushing the boundaries of drone and AI technology?
The most rewarding aspect has been seeing how technology can directly impact lives. Knowing that our work at Aerobotics7 is paving the way for safer, more efficient threat detection and potentially saving countless lives is incredibly fulfilling.
What keeps me motivated is the responsibility to make this technology as effective and accessible as possible. We’re not just building a system; we’re creating a solution to a problem that has persisted for decades. The ongoing development of the EAGLE A7 platform, from sensor fusion to multi-modal AI, inspires me to push the boundaries further. Our scheduled pilots in Ukraine for early Summer 2025 mark a significant milestone, and the possibility of witnessing its real-world impact continues to drive me forward.
Looking back, what has been the most rewarding aspect of your journey so far, and what keeps you motivated to continue pushing the boundaries of drone and AI technology?
The journey itself has been deeply rewarding—from overcoming challenges as a young founder to building a product with global significance. What stands out most is the people and communities we’re working to help. Landmine detection isn’t just about technology; it’s about restoring hope and safety to affected regions.
What motivates me every day is the vision of a world where no child loses their future to a landmine. The breakthroughs we’ve achieved so far in radar systems, sensor fusion, and AI are just the beginning. With every step, from development to field testing with our partners, I see Aerobotics7 getting closer to making this vision a reality. That promise of tangible, lasting impact keeps me pushing forward.
Thank you for the great interview, and more importantly for all of the important work that you do, readers who wish to learn more should visit Aerobotics7.
