Quarkitech shrinks sensor data before it ever leaves the drone
The Chennai-based company builds compression software that cuts the volume of data a sensor produces at the source, for platforms where bandwidth and power are limited.
Quarkitech, a startup founded in January 2025 and headquartered in Chennai at IIT Madras Research Park, has developed software that compresses sensor data at its source before it is stored, processed or transmitted. The company, which focuses on simulation and algorithmic solvers for large-scale optimization problems, was founded by Rajesh Narayanan, Sanyam Parashar, Shashikant Singh Kunwar, and Vishnu P.K., who leads the quantum algorithms work.
The inspiration for Quarkitech's approach comes from quantum many-body physics, a field that deals with describing systems of many interacting particles. The founders have applied the mathematical framework used in this field to compress data streams, claiming their algorithms can reduce data volume by 10 to 100 times, depending on the sensor. In laboratory tests on drone-captured imagery, Quarkitech reported a 26-fold reduction in data volume while retaining 98% of mission-critical information.
A notable aspect of Quarkitech's software is that it runs on ordinary processors and graphics chips, rather than specialized hardware. This means the software can be deployed on computers already flying, eliminating the need for new hardware built around the compression system. The company's target platforms include drones, satellites, radar, and LiDAR systems.
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