AI brain mapping, robotic dogs showcase depth of Indian startups at New Delhi event

As the startup ecosystem continues to grow in India, they are increasingly making direct contribution to nation building through technological advancements.

Some key areas that have seen significant breakthroughs are artificial intelligence (AI)-powered brain mapping and advanced robotics.

Two such innovations — BrainSightAI’s neuroscience platform VoxelBox and General Autonomy’s quadruped robotic dog “PARAM” — highlight the growing depth and diversity of the startup ecosystem which was on display during events marking National Startup Day in New Delhi.

Founded in 2019 by Laina Emmanuel and Dr Rimjhim Agrawal in Bengaluru, BrainSightAI is making strides in neuroscience through its flagship product, VoxelBox. The platform uses AI to generate advanced maps of the human brain, helping neurosurgeons and clinicians make informed decisions.

Explaining the technology, Emmanuel said VoxelBox maps the brain much like Google maps charts a city.

“We create a traffic, road and a structural map of an individual’s brain. This is used by neurosurgeons for precise planning before surgeries,” she said.

The platform enables advanced neuro-navigation using a 12-minute resting scan. It generates visually rich reports highlighting critical functional networks and tracts around brain lesions.

VoxelBox focuses on connectomics, or the detailed mapping of functional connections in the brain. According to Emmanuel said that by analysing these patterns, doctors can identify markers for conditions such as dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The company recently commercialised VoxelBox, and it is now being used in over 80 hospitals.

Meanwhile, General Autonomy, another Bengaluru-based startup, is making headlines for its robotic dog.

Christened PARAM, the indigenous robotic dog is designed for versatility and durability, and can operate in challenging and hazardous environments where human intervention might prove to be risky. Company representatives said PARAM can be deployed for a wide range of operations, including search and rescue, firefighting, defence, inspection of public infrastructure and security at public events.

They said PARAM is also suited for crowd monitoring during mega events. It has an eight-hour battery life, enabling operations in extreme conditions, and can run at speeds of up to 15 km per hour.