A memorable technical Fest
A sense of déjà vu - Pragyan 2024
Your alma mater holds a special place in your heart, as it represents not only your educational background but also the memories and experiences you gained there. Visiting NITT a week back brought those familiar feelings, reminding my own time as a student. Participating in the Pragyan event's open house contest and attending guest lectures and innovative student projects made me appreciate the knowledge and creativity shared within the campus community. Hence, I am dividing the content into keynote presentations and techno-innovative projects
KeyNote
Seshasaye Kanthamraju ( CEO of Ramoji Film City - Hyderabad)
Hyderabad is a vibrant city that combines elements of Bangalore's tech industry, Lucknow's style-rich heritage, and unique attractions like the world's largest film city, Ramoji Film City (named after Cherukuri Ramoji Rao). This bustling metropolis also houses spiritual centres such as Kanha Shanti Vanam, offering a diverse and captivating experience for its residents and visitors alike. Sesha talked about the challenges being faced at Ramoji and the role of creativity in the entertainment industry. He challenged students to design a Paper Plane in 5 minutes to hit a target kept 5 metres away. Sesha's innovative challenge successfully encouraged students to think outside the box, fostering creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Although none of the planes hit the target, they gained valuable insights about unconventional designs, such as wingless and spherical shapes, which can be applied in future projects.
Arsh Ali (India's youngest archaeologist )
Arsh Ali, India's youngest archaeologist, has made significant contributions to the field through numerous excavations and lectures at Allahabad University. He started with the origin of Sanskrit, an ancient language, which is known for its flexibility and precision. Its structure resembles a modern computer program and has a unique grammatical system. The creation of the "Shiva Sutra" or "Maaheswar Sutra" is attributed to Lord Shiva playing his Damaru 14 times. Damaru, the instrument of the deity Shiva, is a symbol of infinity, the endless time. It represents that the universe is expanding and collapsing. from where it is expanding) . These 14 Sutras, known as the "Maahesvarsutrani," significantly impacted Sanskrit grammar. Subsequently, renowned scholars like Panini, Katyayana, and Patanjali contributed to its development with their works, "Astadhyayi," "Vartikas," and "Mahabhashya," respectively, forming the foundation and expansions of Sanskrit grammar.
Savio Mascarenhas (Group Art Director at Amar Chitra Katha)
Savio, a renowned co-creator of TINKLE characters such as Shikari Shambu, has been entertaining readers for over two decades. As a TEDx speaker focusing on the significance of visuals in education, he also leads comic-making sessions for children and adults. Savio effectively demonstrated how incorporating visuals can simplify the understanding of complex concepts, making them more accessible and easier to grasp for a wider audience.
TechnoVation
Soldier health monitoring - This project focuses on monitoring soldiers' health using advanced body sensors, transmitting the collected data through an efficient IoT network to a data centre or cloud for analysis. By employing algorithms like k-means clustering, valuable insights can be derived. The project's USP lies in its IoT foundation, which enables seamless data transfer between connected devices, machines, and living beings, without human or computer intervention.
Automatic waste segregation - The innovative waste segregation product, developed by a dedicated team, utilizes advanced image classification techniques to efficiently separate dry items such as fruits and paper, making the process more accessible and environmentally friendly.
Bio-inspired atmospheric water generator - The innovative technology draws inspiration from the biomaterials and spiral patterns of Aloe polyphylla to create a dehumidifying product that efficiently manages air and water flow, ultimately contributing to green science advancements.
Active food packaging systems - A bio composite-based system and edible coating serve as a preservation method, effectively delaying undesirable physicochemical changes in food products. This extends their shelf life and contributes to environmental safety by reducing potential hazards.
Lunar soil simulant for Chandrayan - Developing a new lunar soil simulant is crucial for accurately estimating rover mobility on the Moon. Unlike Earth's three-phased soils, lunar soil is mono-phased, consisting solely of solid particles. By understanding the friction between the rover's rigid wheels and the lunar surface, researchers can optimize rover designs and navigation strategies to ensure efficient exploration missions.
A Bio-inspired Robot for Structural Health -Monitoring of Natural Gas Pipeline - Inspired by nature's adaptability, authors have developed various bio-inspired locomotion strategies for in-pipe robots. These robots, categorized into seven subtypes such as pig, wheel, caterpillar, wall-press, walking, inchworm, and screw types (as shown below), demonstrate versatility in addressing pipeline inspection challenges. Their unique features allow them to adapt to different pipe dimensions and configurations, ensuring efficient and effective inspection processes.
Robots for gas pipeline
The event showcased an impressive blend of technology, engaging student participation, and warm hospitality from the host. This combination resulted in a fulfilling experience for me.
I eagerly anticipate the upcoming March posts focusing on Lord Shiva. These insights will likely delve into his significance, mythology, and teachings, offering readers a deeper understanding and appreciation of this revered deity in Hinduism.