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Five student projects to get aid for technology upgradation from KSCSTE

17/01/2016 4:07 PM / Leave a comment

The Hindu | Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram |January 17, 2016 |  T. Nandakumar |

As many as five student projects with the potential for application in real-world situations are set to get assistance from the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) for technology upgradation and refinement. The five projects are among those presented by teams from different engineering colleges at this year’s Techfest, the State-level competition for innovative engineering products. They include a package of low-cost energy devices for rural areas, a bionic haptic arm, a device for tranquilisation of elephants, a safety device for electric linemen, and a new carbon nano catalyst for fuel cells. Designed by students of the Sree Narayana Institute of Engineering, Adoor, the low-cost energy package for rural households comprises a box with a primary energy source, LED lamps, fan charging point, connecting wires, and other ancillaries for installation.

A prototype developed by a team from SCMS Engineering College, Ernakulam, the bionic haptic arm is a prosthetic limb for amputees. The device, harnesses the electrical signals transmitted by motor neurons to contract muscles. Designed by a team from Government College of Engineering, Wayanad, the device for tranquillisation of elephants involves a module that can be mounted on the animal and activated when it turns violent. The student team from Mangalam College of Engineering, Kottayam, came up with the project on safety of electric linemen in response to the accidental deaths caused by inadvertent switching on of power lines. It works by controlling a circuit breaker using a password. The new carbon nano catalyst support with a spherical fibrous morphology has been developed for fuel cells to power automobiles. The student team from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, claims the new generation material can reduce the cost of fuel cells by 25 per cent.

Assessment

According to Ajith Prabhu, Joint Director, KSCSTE, the five student projects would be given assistance for refinement and development from the prototype level. “Each of the teams will be attached to a suitable engineering college for design engineering to take the technology to the next level. The projects will be assessed for commercialisation and technology transfer.” Executive Vice President, KSCSTE, Suresh Das said the council would support the projects with funding. “The decision to support student projects reflects our thrust on programmes that could impact on the State’s economy. Plans are afoot to partner industry for innovative PhD programmes and bring the end user into the loop for continuous feedback and analysis”. Dr. Das said the whole effort was oriented towards creating an innovation ecosystem and promoting entrepreneurship among the youth. – Courtesy

Worried About Fuel Costs? Government Engineering College,Thiruvananthapuram , Students Develop car that delivers 200 kms in a litre of petrol

16/01/2015 10:36 AM / Leave a comment

ND TV | Offbeat | Indo-Asian News Service | January 15, 2015 |

Worried About Fuel Costs? Kerala Students Develop 200-KM-a-Litre Vehicle

Thiruvananthapuram:  Three sixth semester mechanical engineering students here have designed and developed a prototype vehicle which runs more than 200 kilometres per litre of petrol. “It is a wonderful innovation and needs to be promoted considering the energy crisis and rising oil prices”, said B Anil, the Principal of Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, Thiruvananthapuram, to reporters, Wednesday.  Incidentally, this prototype will be shipped tomorrow for the International Fuel Efficiency Contest, “Shell Eco Marathon”, to be held at Philippines Feb 26 to March 1. “This is the only entry from Kerala for the competition in which more than 120 teams from 16 countries will take part,” said Bibin Sagaram, team leader of the project.

The vehicle is powered by a Honda GX35 engine and uses light weight materials, advanced aerodynamic techniques besides advanced tuning for extreme efficiency. The design of the body of their vehicle is inspired by the golf ball which has a highly aerodynamic construction. The vehicle weighs just around fifty kilograms. The other two students Ronith Stanly and S.Vishnu Prasad along with a faculty of theirs will be taking part in the competition. The project was undertaken under the guidance of two of their teachers Santhosh Kumar and Anver Sadath. Santhosh Kumar told IANS that this project was part of a study that was funded by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) under the Technology Development and Adaptation Programme.

“The trial run was conducted and this is a vehicle that will take one passenger and has two wheels in the front and one at the rear. The steering wheel is similar to that of a three wheeler. The driver can sit in a reclining position and steer the vehicle. We will be making some more changes as we have time till July to complete the project,” said Kumar.The vehicle has advanced safety features including collision warning system, engine temperature monitor, seat belt. The vehicle’s chassis is made out of light-weight aluminium and the body is made out of extremely strong fibreglass and polycarbonate.

Courtesy

Engineering students develop car that delivers 200 kms in a litre of petrol – | January 15, 2015 – motoroids.com- Read More…

Kerala students develop 200-km-a-litre vehicle – ummid.com – Read More…

Car that runs 200km on a litre of petrol – The Times of India
Fuel-efficient car heads for global contest – The Hindu

 

V N Rajasekharan Pillai Lobbying for a Plum Post at the Centre

18/06/2014 11:00 AM / Leave a comment

By N V Ravindranathan Nair | Published: 18th June 2014, The Indian Express.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) Executive Vice President V N Rajasekharan Pillai, who is facing a CBI probe, is allegedly lobbying for a top post at the Centre.

However, speaking to ‘Express’ Pillai categorically denied any such move, on his part. According to reliable sources, Pillai has the blessings of some functionaries in the Swadeshi Science Movement, a pro-Sangh Parivar organisation.

However, there is strong opposition from within the parivar against the move. Detractors point out that Pillai had landed in controversies whenever he assumed high profile positions in the state and Centre.

It is learnt that Pillai met top leaders in the BJP and the Union Government in this regard, but hid his antecedents regarding allegations of corruption, including the one being probed by CBI.

Sources said Pillai is keen on getting the post of Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister or the post of the Advisor to the Ministry of Human Resource Department (MHRD).

What is in favour of Pillai, are his stints as the Director NAAC and Vice chairman of UGC during the first NDA regime. He would have made it to the post of Chairman, UGC, had it not been for an intervention by Governor Sukhdev Singh Kang, who pointed out that Pillai was facing a case in connection with the Cheruvandoor land acquisition.

Later, the Kerala High Court gave a clean chit to Pillai quashing the Governor’s order. Pillai was appointed the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, after entering the good books of the previous UPA Government.

Pillai said he is not aware of the current status of the CBI probe against him. “The case was registered in 2011. I don’t know what is the current status of the case,” he told ‘Express.’ Pillai faced allegations of corruption during his stint as IGNOU Vice chancellor and Chairman of the Distance Education Council. It was alleged that he abused his official position and granted approval to two private universities based in Jalandhar and Gangtok for running courses in distance education mode, ignoring the deficiencies pointed out by the Expert committee during 2009. CBI had found that the two private universities had amassed income worth `1600 crore in five years by conducting courses under Distance education mode.

Raids were conducted at the residences of Pillai at Thiruvananthapauram and documents related to property and investments were seized.

The Finance Inspection wing of the state government in July 2013 had found irregularities in the appointments made by  the KSCSTE. The inspection report, a copy of which has been accessed by ‘Express’, also recommended recovering the salaries paid to persons who were appointed flouting rules. The Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) had also recommended the government to order a vigilance probe into the irregular appointments.

Courtesy