Mumbai-based semiconductor startup MumbaiSemi has developed DhruvaPro, an indigenous, reconfigurable radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) designed to receive satellite navigation signals from India’s NavIC and major global navigation systems. The technology represents an important achievement in India’s efforts to develop domestically designed semiconductor chips for navigation, communication and advanced electronic applications.
Incubated at the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) at IIT Bombay, MumbaiSemi is commercialising semiconductor technology developed through research at the institute. Its DhruvaPro chip combines multiple satellite navigation capabilities within a single programmable design, supporting applications in transportation, logistics, automotive electronics and connected devices.
DhruvaPro Supports NavIC and Multiple Global Navigation Systems
DhruvaPro is a fully integrated radio-frequency receiver chip capable of processing signals from different Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). According to MumbaiSemi, the chip supports India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), the United States’ GPS, Europe’s Galileo and China’s BeiDou systems. The company has also identified compatibility with Russia’s GLONASS in its technology updates.
Satellite navigation receivers use radio-frequency circuits to detect and process extremely weak signals transmitted by satellites orbiting Earth. These signals allow navigation equipment to calculate geographical position, speed and timing information.
Conventional receivers often require dedicated circuit configurations or additional components to accommodate different navigation frequencies. DhruvaPro addresses this challenge through a reconfigurable architecture that can adapt to multiple satellite navigation signals.
This flexibility makes the technology relevant to equipment manufacturers developing navigation products for Indian and international markets.
IIT Bombay Researchers Develop Reconfigurable Navigation Chip
The technology originated from semiconductor research at IIT Bombay involving Professor Rajesh Zele and Dr. Vijay Kumar Kanchetla.
Their research focused on developing a compact, reconfigurable CMOS radio-frequency receiver capable of supporting multiple satellite navigation systems.
A research paper titled A Compact, Reconfigurable CMOS RF Receiver for NavIC/GPS/Galileo/BeiDou appeared in the IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques in 2022.
The researchers demonstrated a fully integrated receiver architecture that could accommodate different GNSS signals through programmable circuitry without requiring changes to the underlying hardware.
Recognising the achievement, IIT Bombay conferred the Dr. P. K. Patwardhan Technology Development Award for 2024 on Professor Rajesh Zele and Dr. Vijay Kanchetla during its National Engineers’ Day celebrations in September 2025.
The institute specifically recognised their work on DhruvaPro, describing it as a navigation receiver chip supporting multiple global satellite constellations.
Indigenous Chip Designed for High Performance and Low Power Consumption
According to MumbaiSemi’s official technical information, DhruvaPro is a silicon-proven integrated circuit developed with features required for practical electronic applications.
The chip incorporates electrostatic discharge protection, built-in testing capabilities and circuits designed to function across demanding temperature conditions.
Its silicon die has been packaged in a 32-pin Quad Flat No-lead (QFN-32) package, enabling evaluation under real operating conditions.
MumbaiSemi states that its design uses patented circuit techniques to achieve high performance while maintaining low power consumption.
Low-power operation is particularly important for satellite navigation receivers used in battery-operated equipment, vehicle tracking devices and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Reduced power requirements can help extend device operating life and simplify electronic system design.
The company’s reconfigurable architecture also supports the development of compact navigation equipment capable of receiving signals from multiple satellite constellations.
NavIC Compatibility Strengthens India’s Indigenous Navigation Ecosystem
NavIC is India’s independent regional satellite navigation system, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The system provides positioning, navigation and timing services across India and a surrounding region extending approximately 1,500 kilometres beyond the country’s boundaries.
NavIC-compatible receiver chips are essential for incorporating India’s navigation services into consumer electronics, transportation systems and industrial equipment.
The availability of domestically designed GNSS radio-frequency chips can strengthen India’s ability to develop navigation products using its own satellite infrastructure.
MumbaiSemi’s DhruvaPro technology contributes to this objective by enabling manufacturers to integrate NavIC alongside established international navigation systems.
Multi-constellation compatibility can also improve the flexibility of navigation equipment used across different geographical regions and operating environments.
Applications in Automotive Electronics, Logistics and IoT Devices
MumbaiSemi identifies automotive navigation, global logistics, asset tracking, marine applications and IoT devices among the potential markets for DhruvaPro.
Vehicle navigation systems depend on satellite signals for route guidance, fleet monitoring and location tracking. Logistics operators also use navigation technologies to monitor the movement of goods and high-value assets.
In industrial IoT applications, compact GNSS receivers can provide location information for connected equipment operating across geographically distributed facilities.
Marine navigation equipment and specialised tracking devices represent additional applications for multi-constellation satellite receivers.
MumbaiSemi’s technology is particularly suited to manufacturers seeking programmable navigation hardware that can support multiple satellite systems within a compact electronic architecture.
MumbaiSemi Expands India’s Fabless Semiconductor Design Capabilities
MumbaiSemi operates as a fabless semiconductor company, specialising in the design of radio-frequency, analogue, mixed-signal and digital integrated circuits.
Fabless companies develop semiconductor architectures and chip designs while relying on specialised semiconductor foundries for wafer fabrication. This model allows engineering teams to concentrate on circuit innovation, product development and technology commercialisation.
Alongside DhruvaPro, MumbaiSemi is developing DhruvaUltra, a next-generation navigation receiver technology.
The company’s broader research interests include wireless transceivers for 5G, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth, high-speed communication interfaces for advanced computing systems, and electronic technologies supporting autonomous vehicles.
Its work extends into high-speed physical-layer interfaces associated with PCI Express and Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express technologies, which support communication between advanced semiconductor components.
These developments position MumbaiSemi within India’s growing ecosystem of companies designing specialised chips for navigation, communication and computing applications.
Indigenous Semiconductor Innovation Strengthens India’s Technology Ecosystem
MumbaiSemi’s progress demonstrates the role of Indian research institutions in converting advanced semiconductor research into commercially relevant technologies.
The development of DhruvaPro brings together IIT Bombay’s expertise in integrated circuit design, indigenous research and startup-led commercialisation.
The chip’s support for NavIC and international satellite navigation systems provides Indian electronics manufacturers with another domestically designed technology option for developing advanced positioning and tracking equipment.
Through DhruvaPro and its expanding semiconductor portfolio, MumbaiSemi is contributing to India’s ambition to build a stronger indigenous chip-design ecosystem and increase its participation in advanced global electronics markets.
References
- MumbaiSemi — Official Company Website. Product specifications, DhruvaPro GNSS RFIC, semiconductor technologies and company information.
https://www.mumbaisemi.com/ - Indian Institute of Technology Bombay — National Engineers’ Day 2025. Official announcement recognising Professor Rajesh Zele and Dr. Vijay Kanchetla for developing DhruvaPro, September 2025.
https://www.iitb.ac.in/breaking-news/iit-bombay-celebrates-national-engineers-day-2025 - IIT Bombay Digital Repository — Kanchetla V. K. and colleagues. A Compact, Reconfigurable CMOS RF Receiver for NavIC/GPS/Galileo/BeiDou. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Volume 70, Issue 7, 2022.
https://dspace.library.iitb.ac.in/jspui/handle/100/39169 - IIT Bombay — National Institutional Ranking Framework 2026, Innovation Category. Official institutional documentation identifying iMumbai Semiconductor Private Limited and the DhruvaPro technology.
https://www.iitb.ac.in/sites/www.iitb.ac.in/files/2026-04/NIRF_IITBombay_2026_Innovation_Category.pdf - MumbaiSemi — Official Corporate Updates. DhruvaPro development, NavIC compatibility, SINE incubation and semiconductor technology initiatives.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mumbaisemi/ - Indian Space Research Organisation — Annual Report 2020–2021. NavIC receiver chip development, satellite navigation applications and industry participation.
https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/AnnualReport/anual_report_2020-2021.pdf
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