According to the start-up, ‘Kavach’, an armoured shield six-wheel, all-terrain platform, is built to carry out tasks including disaster management and emergency responses.
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
The Kerala Police are planning to introduce robotics in their operations, possibly starting with traffic management. As a preliminary step, the police have initiated a collaboration with a Kochi-based start-up to develop deep-tech machines that suit the force’s requirements.
Accordingly, the police have decided to try the feasibility of using two machines developed by the nascent company, I Hub Research and Robotics Private Limited, in traffic management and emergency response. While Daksha, a mobile humanoid, can be deployed for traffic management, ‘Kavach’, an armoured shield six-wheel, all-terrain platform, is built to carry out tasks including disaster management and emergency responses, the start-up claimed.
The machines were exhibited at c0c0n 2026, an annual cybersecurity conference, which began here on Friday.
“The collaboration is aimed at a joint development by our firm, the police, and the Cyberdome. Daksha has already been deployed in five countries for industrial purposes. It can manage traffic using its vision-based analysis model and also detect traffic rule violations. Daksha can be used for disaster management operations and autonomous patrolling. It has already been deployed for defence purposes,” Athil Krishna, founder and chief executive officer, I Hub, said.
Prakash P., Inspector General heading cyber operations, said the start-up was chosen for collaboration considering its track record. “We have decided to try using robotics in some areas and asked the company to provide its technology to suit our needs. Once it is ready, we will test it and deploy on a pilot basis, if deemed fit. If it turns out to be a success, the machines will be procured following proper procedures,” the officer said.
MoU signed
The Kerala Police Cyberdome has, meanwhile, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with I Hub Research and Robotics Private Limited. Under the agreement, the start-up will provide technical expertise, technological support, and professional assistance for approved police projects on a primarily non-monetary basis. The collaboration also facilitates reciprocal knowledge-sharing, granting the firm access to relevant police training programmes, and seminars to help prevent future information-security breaches. The MoU was received by Ankith Ashokan, Cyber Security Police (Cyber SP), from Mr. Krishna.
Published – October 10, 2026 07:00 am IST
