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Hyd student develops low-cost satellite weather receiver
In Short
Aagam Jain developed SummitSathi, a device that receives cloud images directly from weather satellites without requiring internet or mobile connectivity.
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Aagam Jain
A Grade 12 student at Indus International School, Hyderabad, has developed a low-cost satellite weather receiver designed to provide weather images to remote Himalayan communities when internet and mobile networks are unavailable.
Aagam Jain developed SummitSathi, a device that receives cloud images directly from weather satellites without requiring internet or mobile connectivity. According to the project team, three receivers are planned for deployment across 10 villages in the Seraj valley of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, potentially reaching more than 1,000 residents. “I wanted to explore how accessible technology could help remote communities obtain weather information when regular communication networks are unavailable,” Jain said.
Built using readily available components, each receiver costs approximately
Rs68,000. Three local operators have been trained to operate the system, enabling communities to access satellite images during communication disruptions, including those that may occur during the monsoon. The device is intended to provide an additional source of weather information. It does not predict cloudbursts or replace official weather forecasts and warnings. Its purpose is to help residents access satellite imagery when conventional communication channels are disrupted.
Jain has filed an Indian patent application for the device as its sole inventor. He is also scheduled to present his work at the international remote-sensing conference ECRS 2026. His interests extend beyond satellite technology to astronomy and environmental research. In an independent project, he studied approximately 595 suspected exoplanets, or planets orbiting stars beyond the Sun, using software he developed. He also recorded night-sky brightness at 25 locations across Hyderabad over 24 months, compiling data to study urban light pollution.
Jain has also undertaken science outreach initiatives aimed at making astronomy more accessible to students. His self-published astrophotography book, A Window to the Universe, has been distributed to more than 350 students. Through his initiative, Summit Stargazer, he seeks to encourage interest in astronomy among young learners and communities.
Alongside his academic and research activities, Jain captains his school’s athletics team of approximately 170 students. He also competes at the national level in sprinting and hammer throw.
His projects span technology development, astronomy research and science education, reflecting his varied interests as a student. SummitSathi, in particular, explores how satellite imagery can be accessed in remote locations where communication infrastructure may be unreliable.-Arti Adke
