Design and Develop in India

AnantS

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Don't mind me saying, but if we don't attempt it now then in 15 years time we will be cribbing about how some German company is not giving favourable ToT on the driverless technology.

Our choice.

Personally I believe in philosophy that I'd rather try and fail rather than sit and pass judgements.
Irrespective of our discussion and opinion, Driverless tech is being developed both in Govt research orgs and private companies like TCS/Mahindra. But what I wanted to point out to you, is Infrastructure in Himalayan regions will need massive investments and improvements before Driverless trucks get deployed. The Army convoy will use same Track/Road which villagers and tourists use. I know, what you are thinking in mind is a Driver-less Truck along lines of Terramax. But in case of India, we have problems like unruly traffic, badly planned and build quality of roads. All these problems get magnified 1000 times over in upper Himalayan narrow, unstable roads, with still pretty high volume of traffic. Imagine reversing a loaded truck on very narrow, single lane, twisty road uphill on mountain to nearly a kilometer to temp small parking space at edge of cliff, in order to make way for long line of incoming traffic, which very precariously passes near to your vehicle.
 
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ezsasa

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Irrespective of our discussion and opinion, Driverless tech is being developed both in Govt research orgs and private companies like TCS/Mahindra. But what I wanted to point out to you, is Infrastructure in Himalayan regions will need massive investments and improvements before Driverless trucks get deployed. The Army convoy will use same Track/Road which villagers and tourists use. I know, what you are thinking in mind is a Driver-less Truck along lines of Terramax. But in case of India, we have problems like unruly traffic, badly planned and build quality of roads, al these problems get magnified 1000 times over in upper Himalayas narrow, unstable roads, but with still pretty high volume of traffic. Imagine reversing a loaded truck on very narrow, single lane, twisty road uphill on mountain to nearly a kilometer to temp small parking space at edge of cliff, in order to make way for long line of incoming traffic, which very precariously passes near to you vehicle.
So be it, from your comments I am only seeing more reasons why this is a worthy investment.

didn't know what Terramax was before your post.

MoD and Ashok leyland has a great opportunity to come up with something here.if they fail after trying, so be it.
 

AnantS

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So be it, from your comments I am only seeing more reasons why this is a worthy investment.

didn't know what Terramax was before your post.

MoD and Ashok leyland has a great opportunity to come up with something here.if they fail after trying, so be it.
I believe its will be more worthy investments if they upgrade infrastructure first in Himalayas. Driverless Tech can be then easily be adapted for Himalayas.
 

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If not western countries, India must try to match East European and China etc. in terms of infrastructure and living standard. Though government is building 40km roads per day, do anybody know if we can get at least quality footpaths by then. There are rarely footpaths in India. If there are, they suck.
@AnantS
 

ezsasa

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If not western countries, India must try to match East European and China etc. in terms of infrastructure and living standard. Though government is building 40km roads per day, do anybody know if we can get at least quality footpaths by then. There are rarely footpaths in India. If there are, they suck.
@AnantS
Footpaths come under that particular city's budget not central govt.

Ex: Mumbai is currently doing a massive project of renovating the footpaths and roads through out the city. This is a 18 month project(excluding the monsoons).
 

AnantS

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If not western countries, India must try to match East European and China etc. in terms of infrastructure and living standard. Though government is building 40km roads per day, do anybody know if we can get at least quality footpaths by then. There are rarely footpaths in India. If there are, they suck.
@AnantS
@ezsasa is right. Foot Paths come under Civic bodies. However its another issue, that most civic bodies in India have no money to undertake city development and very little revenue sources. Thats why most of non capital cities/non UT cities in India have crumbling infrastructure.

Other thing is I really dont like the way the highway development in taking place as virtually no space has been left for road side trees and green covers. Stupid, expensive & useless Palm trees are being planted in "VIP blessed" areas instead of suitable native plants. India should come up with policy of landscaping, green zone to defined along highways simultaneously.

Instead of creating dedicated rest stops/commercial zones after few km interval we have unauthorized shops, houses coming up along highways. Its a mess
 

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Footpaths come under that particular city's budget not central govt.

Ex: Mumbai is currently doing a massive project of renovating the footpaths and roads through out the city. This is a 18 month project(excluding the monsoons).
aameen!
am a daily witness to that.
 

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So, what's happening?
Something good, just better than worse(improving slightly) or again a mess?
I thought they are doing a good job for example
1) where ever they are putting concrete roads in places which are 1 foot thick, 2) they are removing gaps between footpath with concrete, there will be no dirt on road.
3) some open sewers are being covered with concrete drainage pipes
4) some footpaths are having metal rails now.
5) things works are actually getting completed depending on the scale of work in that particular area, you can see work progressing everyday.
6) wherever they are putting asphalt roads, it is being done from proper ground up atleast 4 inch thick.

These are some of things I noticed, through out the city especially in suburbs like Andheri , Chembur and Ghatkopar.
 

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Power Grid operationalises ultra-high voltage 1200 kV NTS at Bina
Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has operationalised its ultra-high voltage 1200 kV National Test Station (NTS) at Bina in Madhya Pradesh. This will help the company in increasing power carrying capacity.
The NTS is a research and development project which now will be monitored for two years and after that the Central Electricity Authority will take a call on replicating this technology in various parts of the country. This 1,200 kV station has the power carrying capacity which is five to six times more than the 400 kV stations for transmission of power. Thus this station will augment country’s transmission capacity many folds.
Power Grid Corporation of India is an Indian state-owned electric utilities company headquartered in Gurgaon, India. Power Grid transmits about 50% of the total power generated in India on its transmission network.
@LETHALFORCE @Gessler @Superdefender @Illusive
1200 kV.

As AFR as I know, it must be highest in the world. :D
 

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India All Set to Produce Its First Lithium-Ion Battery: CECRI

In a step towards self-reliance to meet defence requirements and to cut the dependence on imports, especially from China, India is all set to produce its first lithium ion (Li-ion) battery.
The Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, has set up the first indigenous Li-ion fabrication facility that has applications in defence, solar powered devices, railways and other high end usages. The facility is to start industrial level production in two months.
"It's the first time that we will have our own technology and potential to produce Li-ion batteries domestically. This would help in cutting costs as well as our dependence on the foreign market," professor Vijayamohan K. Pillai, CECRI Director, told IANS. CECRI is part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
"In two months we will attain capacity to produce at least 100 batteries in a day at our lab," he added.
Over 33 billion Li-ion batteries are used globally. China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and some Western countries are the major manufacturers of lithium ion batteries. India has one billion users of lithium ion batteries, mostly used in mobiles and laptops.
CECRI has also invited investors for mass production.
According to experts, mass production of indigenous Li-ion batteries would reduce the cost manifold as compared to the imported batteries.
"Imported batteries are very expensive. The domestic programme can bring the price down".
For now, 100 percent of Li-ion batteries or cells are imported.
"Some investors have already shown interest. A Canada-based NRI is willing to install a plant in India. On June 3, we have (former DRDO chief) V.K. Saraswat visiting our fabrication facility. His visit gives hope for good investments," Pillai said.
The CECRI technology includes solution for a 400 mAh (milliampere hour) battery to power solar lanterns. The other versions have different user-end capabilities, including heating power tools and those used in firing torpedoes, for which India procures batteries from France.
"The application is also for railway lighting and signalling, for which Indian Railway majorly uses lead acid batteries which are polluting. Railways also use Li-ion batteries which are imported and expensive," Pillai said.
However, domestic manufacture of Li-ion batteries for laptops and mobile phones still seems a distant dream.
"For laptops and mobiles, we have a long way to go. Although there's a plan, we must understand that we for now don't have that kind of expertise here and depend on China, Japan and Taiwan. They have several years' head-start," said Pillai.
He added that even if India produces its own Li-ion batteries for laptops and mobiles, "we will not be able to justify the cost".
Beside Li-ion, to cope with India's ambitious clean energy programme, CECRI is also working on indigenous "zinc bromide redox flow battery", with target capacity of 500 Watts.
"This is for the grid level storage of energy harnessed from solar and wind energy. The target is 2022. However, we will have something to show by two years," said Pillai.
Hope the succeed. I'm bored from Chinese batteries inside my phone. :rolleyes:
 

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Now, a water purifier to remove radioactive poisons
A water purifier installed in a truck
AHMEDABAD: A water purifier manufacturer here has developed a water purification system for the Indian army that can filter chemical and radioactive poisons from toxic water.
The Government of India has ordered 150 units from the firm, Shivam Water Treater, after the army approved their use.
Around five years ago, intelligence sources informed the government that terrorists could cause large-scale disasters by poisoning water resources, a threat New Delhi has taken seriously.
Shivam's Gaurav Dave developed a technology that could make water drinkable by purging it of poisonous chemicals, biological toxins, and dangerous radioactive material.
The firm installed three such units in trucks, and had them driven to the army research department in Jodhpur, where the system was approved.
The government has asked Shivam Water Treaters for a quote, and it is expected that 150 plants will be used in army camps across the country after a deal is made. The first of these plants will be installed in border army camps and navy bases. Since the plants can be installed in trucks, they can move with troops, and be used in remote locations.
 

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Tractor Driven Onion Transplanter

Name : Pandharinath Sarjerao More

District & State : Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra

Category : Agricultural (General)

Award : National

Award Function : 5th National Grassroots Innovation Awards

Award Year : 2009

Price : Rs. 60,000 without fertilizer box (ex-factory India price), Rs. 70,000 (ex-factory India price) with fertilize drill

Delivery Period : 15 days


Innovator Profile
Catalog




The task of transplanting onion seedlings manually is time consuming, labour intensive and toilsome process. PS More (66), a farmer and an innovator, has developed an affordable, semi-automatic transplanter for timely sowing of onion seedlings. He has also laid no restriction for anyone to copy and use his technology, and in fact wants the technology to diffuse widely for the betterment of the farmers.
Pandharinath has 33 acres of irrigated land in his village, Sangavi Bhusar where he grows sapodilla, guava, gooseberry, drumstick, sweet lime and mango. Few years back he grew sugarcane, soybean, wheat and onion but 2006 onwards, he switched over completely to horticulture. His village, with rich farmlands, is located on the banks of the river Godavari and is about 45 km from Shirdi. The area is rich in black soil and agriculture is the mainstay of the people.
His father, late Sarjerao More, was a trader of farm implements and had an agency in partnership dealing in Caterpillar farm machines. Pandharinath, the youngest among five siblings, graduated in arts from Fergusson College in Pune. During this period, he developed a keen acumen in mathematics and physical sciences, which helped him later in his analytical approach leading to refined innovations.
He was keen to pursue his MA, but his father asked him to return and take charge of the farm. In 1967, he married Meeradevi. He has two sons and one daughter. Both his sons have completed their respective diplomas in Mechanical engineering and Printing technology, and now assist him in the farm. His daughter, a state hockey champion, discontinued her diploma in engineering and is married to a chemical engineer posted at Ahmednagar.
Over the last five decades, Pandharinath has donned hats in multiple areas. He has developed solutions in the field of farm implements, agricultural machinery, electrical systems, horticulture, low-cost housing, rainwater harvesting and water conditioning systems.
Genesis of innovation
In the year 2000, Pandharinath, on a pilgrimage to Pandharpur, was sitting devotedly and listening to bhajans (devotional songs). A line in a bhajan by Saint Tukaram meant” paras also cannot make gold without touching iron” struck in his mind. This line moved him a lot and he resolved to use his skills to improve the lives of fellow farmers.
Many of his subsequent innovations including the onion transplanter were born as a result of this resolution. Farmers in south Maharashtra cultivate onion as a cash crop during the Rabi season from October to January. This is done by transplanting 8 to 10 weeks old seedlings. Transplanting is one of the most labor intensive operations in onion cultivation. When pencil-thick, onion seedlings are transplanted as soon as possible in permanent, slightly raised, precision-leveled “panels” in the field, and watered regularly after bulbing.
Pandharinath observed the scarcity of skilled farm workers in the planting season. Even when adequate farm hands were found, lot of expense was incurred in bringing them from their villages to the farm every day. As for quality harvest, accurate row and plant spacing and handling transplants without damage was required, he decided to build a device to mechanize the sowing of onions.
He failed in his initial attempts to make a fully automatic version. The problem lied in separating, picking up and dropping individual seedlings. However, on 14th January, an idea clicked his mind and everything else fell into place. He did not sleep for the next four days as he burnt the midnight oil, building and iterating the parts. Surviving a major mishap when a cutter wheel flew off while testing and struck his chest, he continued unabated. As the sun pierced the wintry dawn on 19th January 2005, Pandharinath stepped out of his workshop. He asked his wife to prepare pakodas…it was time to celebrate.
Spending a month on various configurations, he was finally able to build a semi-automatic working model in 43 days at a cost of Rs 18,000. About his experience he says, “Chetanwadi dimaag mein jad bhi bolne lagti hai,pyaaz ka paudha bhi mere se bolne laga tha...” (Even inert things communicate to aware minds, the onion plants were talking to me…).
Innovation details
Pandharinath’s onion transplanter is a tractor drawn semi- automatic unit. It can perform three functions at a time viz. transplanting the onion, applying the fertilizer and making the irrigation channels.
The unit assembly consists of a cultivator frame, fertilizer box, fertilizer conveying tubes, trays for keeping the seedlings, two ground wheels, furrow openers, chutes to deliver the seedlings and seating arrangement for up to four people.
The working width of the equipment is 4.5 ft with 8 furrow openers. The weight of empty machine is 3 ton. The additional fertilizer drilling arrangement weighs 0.5 tons. The machine needs rotavator operation prior to the planting operation.
It can be retrofitted to tractors in the 22-35 HP range using a three point linkage system. When the tractor moves forward, the star wheel type metering mechanism gets the drive to release the fertilizer in the tubes. On the field when starting, the speed of operation is kept at 1-1.5 kmph. The seedlings are delivered manually in the delivery chutes for planting. The inter-row and inter-plant spacing can be adjusted in the machine to a finer level. The row to row distance of 7 inches and plant to plant distance of 3.5 inches can be maintained using this machine, whereas conventional methods usually achieve a distance of 9 inches and 4-5 inches, respectively. Two depth controlling wheels fitted on either ends of the equipment maintain the uniform depth of onion planting, which is kept at 1 cm.
In the conventional method of planting, it is very difficult to maintain straight rows, which is a barrier in mechanical weeding. However, this machine facilitates the mechanical weeding thereby reducing the cost of weeding. It can cover one hectare per day (2.5 acre/day) using a driver and four workers. This is superior to the coverage of 0.05 hectare per day achieved in conventional methods using the same number of people. At Rs 1000 per hectare, this machine achieves a cost savings of 80 per cent in transplantation cost in his region.
Also, in the conventional method of onion planting, roughly 1, 70,000 to 1, 90,000 seedlings per acre are transplanted using 40 people whereas 2, 25,000 seedlings per acre can be transplanted using this machine. Using this machine, owing to the uniform furrow and spacing, mechanical harvesting of onion becomes easier once transplanting has been done. . This also results in uniform bulb size, which fetches a good price in market.
The machine eliminates the inaccuracy, drudgery, low yield and high labor costs of manual planting and can also be used to sow seeds of cereals and pulses.
There are various types of seed transplanters available viz. disc type furrow openers (US 4622906), mechanical planters with spot planting mechanism through spot holes (US 4807543), runner type furrow opener (US 3108551), mechanical seedling transplanter with electronic controlled system (US 5823126), mechanical transplanter with roto-till or mini-mulcher unit in dual row arrangements (US 060308) and a few others.
However it was found that most available semi-automatic or automatic transplanters are equipped with disc type press wheels and or wedge shaped runner type furrow openers, well suited for the raised bed cultivation. The advantage with this machine is its unique design of blunt nose furrow opener for planting with fertilizer dispensing arrangement. Moreover, it is a dedicated vegetable transplanter for onion seedlings, with controls on row, plant spacing and depth with 100 per cent utilization without damaging the onion bulb while planting.
The open source model
More made one transplanter for himself and thereafter declared the technology as open source for people/firms to manufacture/sell as per the requirements. Though Pandhurinath did not want a patent for this machine, NIF realized that a firm may later usurp his proclaimed open source technology. Accordingly in 2008, it filed a patent in More’s name so as to keep the legal rights with him. However, no restriction in the copy and use of the technology has ever been implied. This may probably be the first ever case of an IPR protected yet open source technology. Some manufacturers in nearby Pune and Nashik apart from some in Ahmednagar have been manufacturing and selling the transplanter to customers. On an average, the Onion transplanter costs Rs. 30,000 with a fertilizer drill and Rs 18,000 without it.
Users’ feedbacks indicate that the machine has bettered their profit margins and improved their savings. Some users also give the transplanter on rent on per acre or per day basis. Onion is the most important crop among various alliums grown in India and occupies an area of 3, 20,000 hectares. The total production is 3.35 million tons with an average yield of 10.5 tons per hectare. There has been a steady increase in area and production of onions in the last decade. India exported 4,16,000 tons of onion valued at Rs. 1630.6 million, which accounted for about 75 per cent of total foreign exchange earning among fresh vegetables. Thus, there appears to be a huge potential for this machine. While some customers do not use the fertilizer drilling feature, the performance of the machine has been appreciated by farmers as well as professionals from Directorate of Agriculture, Govt. of Maharashtra and National Research Centre for Onion and Garlic, Rajgurunagar, Pune.
Journey of innovations spanning decades
More started early. Once, while in third standard, he spent hours observing a craftsman make a duplicate key at his home. When he went out for lunch, he quickly took up the tools and fashioned a duplicate key of his room. This incident not only generated confidence in him but also incited him to look around and learn.
Learning by experience in his farm, by 1968, he had mastered many trades. He was an expert in motor winding, modifying tractor and bullock operated implements, and delivering engines and threshers with enhanced performance. He also started developing metallic farm implements that were more durable than wooden implements prone to wear and tear.
The next year, in 1969, he developed an improved bullock operated seed drill. It was an automatic model with a dedicated orifice type metering system and 4 furrow openers. It was also 40 kg lighter than the then existing conventional machine developed by Rauri Vidyapeeth. The seed drill changed Pandharinath’s life in many ways. The Chairman of the local sugar factory saw the efficacy of this drill and asked his father to open a workshop for him. On 10th Feb 1970, his father opened a workshop for him so that he could continue his research and development.
In the next five years, he made and sold over 1000 seed drills in Maharashtra. But the very success and dispersion of the seed drill caused a few issues. By the year 1975, he faced the twin threats of product saturation and a spate of copycats who did a poor job of even copying his designs. He also lost his workshop in a family separation case. As a result of which the production and sale of the seed drill stopped after its successful golden run.
In 1990’s he worked on the rain water harvesting concept and improvised it. In 2003, he made a biomass digestion plant. Same year he also developed an automatic water pump controller and a water conditioner. The water pump controller is based on the principle of float and can automatically switch on/off a pump. It is a very simple design and can be made by any one having preliminary knowledge of electrical. It took him three years to develop the water conditioner, which can treat the highly alkaline water in a village. This technology is customized as per the soil and water type. It integrates three facets of water conditioning. This includes a venturi like geometry combined with magnetic and catalytic methods. He used a mix of 16 ingredients (powder of semi-precious components) to condition the water. Educated farmers who could measure and monitor the soil chemistry were given access to this technology by him. He has sold a few hundred pieces in Maharashtra and some even in Chennai, Kanpur, Hyderbad, Goa and a few places in Gujarat. This water conditioner can be used for domestic as well as agricultural purposes.
He also developed an improved biogas stove, having a new nozzle design fabricated in copper instead of CI and fitted with a modified burner. The unit manages to separate hydrogen sulphide and moisture from the gas. It has been claimed to have increased the efficiency by over 50 per cent.
His trail of innovations over four decades has resulted in receiving many awards. The then Speaker of Lok Sabha and Kulpati Dhyaneshwar University of Pune felicitated him in May, 2003 for his contribution to agriculture. He also won the Baliraja Jagrit Vachak Patra Puraskar in 2005 and awards during Sevar Falotsav from 2004 to 2007. He was awarded the Pragatisheel Krishak Samman by the Indian Society of Agriculture in 2007 and Lekhan Puraskar by Baliraja Marathi Vaigyanik Parishad for Krishi Sansodhan in the same year. Recently, he was awarded the ‘Krishi Bhushan Samman’ by Maharashtra Government in July 2009 for the water conditioner, onion transplanter and other innovations. He has also been well covered by local and national print and electronic media. ETV, ZEE Maharashtra and DD National and news papers such as Sakal and Times of India have have featured his innovations.
While many villagers do not share his altruistic approaches, they have great regards for the quality and relevance of his innovations. At the age of sixty-six, Pandharinath leads a pious, active and disciplined life. Waking up much before dawn at 3.30 am, he absorbs himself for three hours in puja before walking six kilometers to work. He, in his own way, has imbibed the hoary Bhakti traditions of Maharashtra. He is an ardent devotee of Saint Gyaneswar Maharaj and this has shaped his values and social approaches. Using an open source model, he has allowed free access to the general public and manufacturers to build and sell his innovations. He mentions the following to answer skeptics who find it hard to believe his open source approach.
As far as I remember, this onion transplanter has been exported to some African countries as well. :)
 

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His Own Son’s Struggle Inspired ISRO Scientist to Develop a Drawing Device for the Blind
Ever thought a blind person could draw as easily as a ‘normal’ person? Seems impossible, doesn’t it. But scientist Dilip Bhatt’s invention “Pragya” (named after his wife), changes all that. The senior ISRO scientist, who has long stints in Sriharikota and Allahabad to his name, is the father of a visually impaired boy, Nikunj. His own family was apprehensive about his son’s future and the limited opportunities available to him.
In order to let his son experience the joys of creating art and try his hand at drawing, Dilip decided to design a solution, and Pragya was the result.

Photo source: Wikimedia
“Blind people’s world is limited to six dots of braille and I wanted to change that. With my mechanical engineering background, I started looking at ways I could teach him geography and language,” he told IndiaTimes
He first took a 1.5′ x 1.5′ wooden board, and attached velcro to it. He then designed a pen that would release woollen thread. The thread, when released, sticks to the velcro, thereby providing a tactile canvas.
After the work is completed, the thread can be rolled back onto a spool situated on top of the pen. This simple, yet extremely useful machine secured a patent in 2000.
Pragya has been very well received for its innovative design, and the fact that it doesn’t require electricity. It is now prepared by blind people around around India, and is also used in several schools, even those located in remote areas.
Pragya isn’t Bhatt’s only invention. He has designed several other simple devices, ranging from toothpaste nozzles to easy-to-hold cutlery, all to make a blind person’s life easier.
Not surprisingly, for 22-year-old Nikunj, his father, who is also his best friend, is his role model.
“He learnt Sanskrit to help me revise lessons for my BA course. He has never made me feel that there are things I cannot do. I trek, I ride a bicycle and also perform on stage without fear,” says Nikunj.​
 

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IIT-Madras develops warning system for gas turbines

Prof R I Sujith and his student Vishnu working on a turbulent combustor at the IIT Madras laboratory | Express
CHENNAI: A group of engineers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has cracked the elusive secret code of thermoacoustic instability, a problem that gas turbine and aerospace industry has been grappling with for decades, incurring losses to the tune of $1 billion annually. The team has developed a host of precursors, dubbed as the world’s first early warning system for gas turbine power plants and jet engines.
The technology has found interest among some of the major players in the sector, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and our own Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
“We are exploring the process of working together with the ISRO. However, before we test the technology in aerospace sector, it will be tried first with ground-based engines like gas turbine power plants. We are now in talks with major gas turbine companies such as Ansaldo Energia, General Electric and Siemens to test the technology with real data. It needs lots of testing to root out any lacuna such as triggering of false alarms,” Prof R I Sujith of the Department of Aerospace Engineering in IIT-M told Express. A key person behind the project, he recently visited NASA in this regard.
Prof Sujith said no technology is available at present to help predict an impending instability in turbines.
The companies use pressure transducers to measure pressure fluctuations. After reaching the threshold point, the automatic controllers kick-in and shut down the engines. Once the turbines are shut, it takes at least an hour to restart - a situation that is cumbersome and costly.

Contracts between the turbine manufacturers and power companies often require the manufacturers to bear the cost of such shutdowns and penalties incurred.
The situation is more critical when such instabilities arise in the engine of an aircraft or rocket, where the option to shut down the engine mid-air does not exist and severe vibrations or breakage of the engine can prove to be fatal. For such engines, extensive tests have to be run on-ground. However, a substantial number of these engines, especially for rockets, are destroyed while testing. “This is where our technology brings the radical change that industry has been craving for years. We can give several minutes of warning time, may be up to 20 minutes, for a power plant to take evasive action. For liquid rocket engines, it would probably be a few seconds, enough to stabilise the engine,” he said.
However, Prof Sujith said it would take at least two to three years for the technology to develop into a full-fledged early warning system and for industrial consumption. The technology’s robustness and protocols have to be established in the real scenario, which will take some time. “The companies will first provide historical data of thermoacoustic instabilities. Using the technology, we will try and predict the impending instabilities. This will give a tight understanding of the warning time and threshold limits,” he said.
“We can also customise the system, according to the industry specifications. But we have not reached that stage yet,” he said.
 

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Multi Tree Climber

Name : D. N. Venkat (D. Renganathan alias)

District & State : Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Category : Agricultural (General)

Award : Consolation

Award Function : 6th National Grassroots Innovation Awards

Award Year : 2012

Price : Model 1 Rs. 7,700/- Model 2 Rs. 9,300 (ex-factory price India + packaging). The price does not include transportation costs, taxes, etc.

Delivery Period : 10-15 day after confirmed order with 75 per cent of the price as advance payment
Catalog




 

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D. Renganathan alias D.N. Venkat (49), an agriculturist from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu has developed a coconut tree climber with a sitting arrangement, locking system and a safety belt.
After trying his hand at many things, from being a daily wager in a khadi spinning unit, selling spare parts of pumps, to being a mechanic, Venkat finally settled down with agriculture. It was here that he noticed the problems in climbing coconut/palm trees. He planned to address all the issues and design a simple low cost tree climber. Working hard over a period of a year and making about three progressively improved prototypes; finally in 2008 he was able to fabricate a model to his satisfaction.
The tree climber has a seating provision and has two frames. The upper frame is operated by hand while the lower one is operated by leg. The user sits comfortably on the seat and by the up and down movement of upper and lower frame, can climb the tree. A locking system has been provided, which enables the climber to work without fear at any height. To avoid the possibility of a fall, a four lock pin can be fixed at any height. One can climb up to 40 ft in 5 minutes (this includes time needed in fixing, climbing up- down and removal of device from tree). One of the major advantages of this machine is that it is useful for trees with different girth. University of Agricultural Sciences, GVK, Bangalore has tested the device as part of an all India coordinated research project on Post Harvest Technology and found it useful for climbing coconut palms. The team also gave a special mention of its in-built safety feature.
Prior art has discloses similar devices used by hunters but about the girth of the trees on which these can be used is unclear. Having a good demand majorly in South India, Venkat is selling the device at Rs. 7000/-. So far he has sold about 200 units in Tamil Nadu. Recently few units were exported to other South Asian countries as well.
 

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