Krishnan Balasubramanian (Planys Technologies): 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Krishnan Balasubramanian is a prominent academic and entrepreneur known for his pioneering contributions to the field of nondestructive evaluation and underwater robotics. As a professor and researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), he has played a pivotal role in advancing technologies for infrastructure inspection, especially underwater structures. Beyond academia, he is a co-founder and director of Planys Technologies, an innovative deep-tech startup that harnesses underwater robotic systems to enable automated, precise, and data-driven inspection of submerged civil and industrial infrastructure. His work exemplifies the successful translation of research into impactful commercial applications, addressing critical challenges in marine and industrial asset management. The following points shed light on Krishnan Balasubramanian’s background, his entrepreneurial journey with Planys Technologies, and their transformative impact on underwater inspection technologies.

1. Academic Leadership and Research Excellence

Krishnan Balasubramanian is a Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Madras and heads the Centre for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE). His academic credentials include a PhD from Drexel University, USA, earned in 1989. With over 200 technical publications, he has gained recognition for his expertise in nondestructive testing (NDT) and evaluation methods. His research spans fundamentals of material testing, structural health monitoring, and underwater inspection technologies, making his work highly relevant to infrastructure safety. His academic stewardship helps nurture future researchers and engineers in these vital fields.

2. Co-founder and Driving Force Behind Planys Technologies

Beyond his academic role, Balasubramanian co-founded Planys Technologies in 2015 as a spin-off from IIT Madras’s CNDE. The company was started with fellow faculty members and alumni to realize a vision of automating underwater infrastructure inspections, traditionally reliant on manual or subjective methods. His intellectual property filings on automated submerged pipeline inspections form part of Planys’ technological foundation. He serves as a director of the company, guiding its strategic and technology directions.

3. Planys Technologies: Revolutionizing Underwater Inspection

Planys Technologies develops advanced underwater inspection systems using submersible robotic platforms like Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), hybrid crawlers, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Their solutions integrate marine robotics, advanced NDT techniques, and digital analytics, enabling precise detection of defects in underwater assets such as bridges, dams, ports, and offshore installations. This holistic approach allows asset owners to perform data-driven maintenance, extending asset life and ensuring safety with minimal human risk.

4. Successful Scaling and Funding Milestones

Since its inception, Planys has raised substantial investment, including a notable INR 43 crore (about $5 million) round led by prominent investor Ashish Kacholia, and a recent INR 100 crore ($11.1 million) funding announced in late 2025, aimed at global market expansion and developing a defence technology arm. These funds support scaling their inspection business worldwide and developing indigenous unmanned underwater vehicles tailored for complex industrial and defence applications.

5. Innovative Technology and Intellectual Property

Planys holds an impressive portfolio of 21 granted patents and 15 more filed patents related to underwater inspection robotics and non-destructive testing technologies. Their proprietary technology includes underwater concrete and metal testing using robotic submersibles, AI-powered data analytics, and 3D inspection twin platforms that provide actionable insights for infrastructure health monitoring, distinguishing them as leaders in marine robotics innovation.

6. Real-World Impact: Infrastructure Inspection Projects

Planys’ technology has been deployed across over 400 underwater structures, collaborating with major players such as Reliance Industries, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), Dedicated Freight Corridor, and Indian Railways. Their robots have inspected bridges, dams, jetties, ports, and pipelines. This has resulted in safer, faster, and more objective inspection processes compared to traditional diver-based or visual methods, significantly improving asset maintenance workflows.

7. Bridging Academia and Industry for Deep Tech Innovation

Krishnan Balasubramanian exemplifies the successful linkage between academic research and startup innovation. Planys emerged directly from IIT Madras’s Centre for Nondestructive Evaluation, demonstrating how university research ecosystems foster cutting-edge industrial solutions addressing large, underserved markets. His mentorship and leadership have shaped Planys’ development and positioned it as a category creator in underwater inspection.

8. Advancing Defence and Security Capabilities

With the latest funding round, Planys has expanded into defence through a subsidiary called Planys Ark. This division focuses on designing fully indigenous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for complex, mission-critical defence applications. Krishnan's involvement ensures the application of high-precision technologies that elevate India’s underwater defence capabilities, supporting strategic autonomy and advanced operational scenarios.

9. Recognition and Awards

Krishnan Balasubramanian’s contributions have earned him several prestigious accolades, including the Indian Society for NDT’s National Young Scientist Award, the Institution of Engineers (India) awards, the ISSS Young Scientist Award, the DRDO Academy Excellence Award, and the Gandhian Technology Innovation Award. These honors highlight his excellence in research, innovation, and technology transfer impacting national industry and infrastructure.

10. Vision for the Future of Underwater Infrastructure Safety

Krishnan Balasubramanian and Planys Technologies continue to drive innovation aiming to make underwater inspections safer, faster, and more intelligent globally. The vision includes leveraging AI, robotics, and data analytics to transform how subsea infrastructure is managed, mitigating risks of failure and enabling sustainable industrial growth. Their holistic technology platform is set to become a global standard, safeguarding critical marine and industrial assets for generations to come.

Conclusion

Krishnan Balasubramanian represents a quintessential blend of academic brilliance and entrepreneurial spirit. His pioneering work in nondestructive evaluation and underwater robotics through Planys Technologies is reshaping how critical infrastructure is inspected and maintained. From intellectual rigor at IIT Madras to leading a high-impact deep tech startup, his journey underscores the powerful impact of leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges. As Planys expands its global and defence footprint, the legacy of innovation and safety that Krishnan nurtures promises to transform underwater inspection worldwide. What new frontiers in marine robotics and infrastructure health will emerge next remains an exciting prospect.