The problem is measured in centimeters and milliseconds. As low-Earth orbit crowds with thousands of new satellites, the risk of catastrophic collisions climbs. The standard defense,ground-based radar tracking and delayed maneuver commands,is showing its age. A startup called OrbitArch, founded by three 20-year-old BITS Pilani engineering students, is betting the solution is to put the eyes and the brain on the satellite itself [Aviation & Defence Universe, December 2025].
The Onboard Intelligence Bet
OrbitArch’s core proposition is autonomy. The company is developing a system that combines LiDAR sensors, onboard artificial intelligence, and orbital mechanics software to enable satellites to detect potential collisions and execute avoidance maneuvers without waiting for instructions from Earth [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF]. The company claims its approach provides real-time in-orbit situational awareness, a shift from relying on delayed, ground-based tracking data that can lag by hours [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF]. Published research outlines a "LiDAR-Enhanced Reinforcement-Learning Architecture for Sub-Second Autonomous Collision Avoidances," targeting the specific challenge of managing dense mega-constellations [OrbitArch: LiDAR-Enhanced Reinforcement-Learning Architecture, November 2025]. One claim, cited from a 2026 industry pitch event, suggests its quantum radar system can track orbital objects as small as one centimeter wide [Via Satellite, February 2026].
The Student-Founded Wedge
The venture is a classic deep-tech wedge: a highly technical, hardware-software integration problem tackled by a young, academically-grounded team. Founders Naman Chawla (CEO), Krishna Nagpal, and Sachi Patel (COO) incorporated Skorbitron Technologies Private Limited, OrbitArch’s parent entity, in March 2025 [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF, March 2025]. Corporate records show an authorized share capital of ₹10.00 lakh and a paid-up capital of ₹1.00 lakh, indicating the bootstrap phase typical of a student project transitioning into a company [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF, March 2025]. The team’s youth is a central part of the narrative, highlighted in early profiles, and their technical focus is clear from Chawla’s described leadership in developing the AI-powered LiDAR system [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF].
| Founder | Role | Noted Background |
|---|---|---|
| Naman Chawla | Founder & CEO | Led development of OrbitArch’s AI-powered LiDAR system [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF]. |
| Sachi Patel | Co-founder & COO | Represented the company in media interviews as a BITS Pilani student [Aviation & Defence Universe, December 2025]. |
| Krishna Nagpal | Co-founder | Listed as a director/signatory at incorporation [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF, March 2025]. |
The Hardest Part of the Orbit
The ambition is vast, and the path to revenue is unmarked. No named paying customers, satellite operator contracts, or commercial deployments are yet verifiable in the public record. The company participated in the Dubai Airshow 2025 and was listed to pitch at the Startup Space 2026 event, indicating a focus on industry visibility and partnership development [Aviation & Defence Universe, December 2025] [Via Satellite, February 2026]. The technical and commercial hurdles are significant:
- The reliability threshold. Space systems demand near-perfect reliability. Convincing satellite operators to trust an autonomous, student-developed AI with assets worth hundreds of millions will require extensive, verifiable testing and likely regulatory approvals.
- The integration challenge. The system isn’t just software; it’s hardware (LiDAR) that must be miniaturized, radiation-hardened, and integrated into satellite buses, competing for precious payload space and power.
- The data advantage. Established players like LeoLabs have built extensive ground-based sensor networks. OrbitArch’s bet on superior real-time data from individual satellites must prove it can create a more accurate and actionable picture than these aggregated, terrestrial networks.
For now, OrbitArch operates on its initial capital and the credibility of its published research. The next twelve months will be about moving from concept to a demonstrable prototype, likely seeking its first institutional funding to finance that leap. The question for any potential investor is not just about the algorithm, but about which satellite builder will be first to bolt this untested system onto their spacecraft.
Sources
- [Aviation & Defence Universe, December 2025] BITS Pilani Start-up ORBITARCH Aims to Track Millions of Untracked Space Debris Objects | https://www.aviation-defence-universe.com/bits-pilani-start-up-orbitarch-aims-to-track-millions-of-untracked-space-debris-objects/
- [OrbitArch: LiDAR-Enhanced Reinforcement-Learning Architecture, November 2025] Research paper title | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387654991_OrbitArch_LiDAR-Enhanced_Reinforcement-Learning_Architecture_for_Sub-Second_Autonomous_Collision_Avoidances_in_Mega-Constellation_Satellites
- [Via Satellite, February 2026] Meet the 10 Startups Set to Pitch Their Companies in Startup Space 2026 | https://www.satellitetoday.com/innovation/2026/02/13/meet-the-10-startups-set-to-pitch-their-companies-in-startup-space-2026/
- [mach33.aero, Retrieved 2026] Portfolio - OrbitArch description | https://www.mach33.aero/portfolio