Category Archives: Science & Technology

Startups from Kochi hog the limelight through global robotics challenge

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hajime Asama (Robotics Challenges co-chair) with Chandykunju Alex, Lentin Joseph (Team Lead of Team Autobots), Achu Wilson and Raj Madhavan
Hajime Asama (Robotics Challenges co-chair) with Chandykunju Alex, Lentin Joseph (Team Lead of Team Autobots), Achu Wilson and Raj Madhavan

Kochi  :

Team Autobots, a collaboration of two robotic start-ups in Kochi – Qbotics Labs and Sastra Robotics –  has bagged the first prize in the Humanitarian Robotics and Automation Technology Challenge (HRATC) held in Stockholm, Sweden.

HRATC is the biggest global robotics conference organised by Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). The International Conference of Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2016) brings together the brightest scientists and researchers working with cutting-edge robotics.

Team Autobots is one of the top four teams from across the world that made it into the finals of the challenge and is the team with the leading score.

Team Autobots comprises expert engineers from Qbotics Labs, which specialises in mobile robotics research, and Sastra Robotics, which specialises in robotic arms for testing of devices.

The members of the team are Lentin Joseph (CEO/founder, Qbotics Labs), who is leading the team, Achu Wilson (CTO/co-founder, Sastra Robotics) and Chandy Kunju Alex (robotics engineer, Sastra Robotics).

The challenge of the team was to find and defuse hidden unexploded landmines in an area, autonomously using a robot without human intervention.

The competition tries to find the best software solutions to avoid and defuse mines using a robot called Husky. There are three phases in the challenge. The first algorithm phase involves teams proposing ingenious algorithms to tackle the challenge.

The shortlisted teams enter the second phase called simulation phase, which involves implementation of the proposed algorithm on robotic simulator Gazebo using software platform Robot Operating System(ROS). Teams which perform best in simulation phase enter the testing phase, in which the algorithm runs on the real robot itself. The testing phase is the final phase and Team Autobots emerged victorious with top score.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / May 29th, 2016

Award for Cusat researcher

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Jayesh P., a post-doctoral fellow at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), has won the prestigious Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award of the year 2015 instituted by the Department of Biotechnology to prevent brain drain of highly talented and motivated young scientists in biotechnology.

According to an official release issued by the varsity, Dr. Jayesh was selected for the award in recognition of the potential of his research in the area of “crustacean cell reprogramming” under the guidance of Prof. I.S. Bright Singh and its continuation to find application to study neurogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases.

The award consists of Rs.50 lakh research grant, monthly fellowship, gold medal, certificate and a citation.

The outcome of this project will help in understanding molecular mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases in humans, especially Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s using daphnia as a model animal.

Dr. Jayesh is a recipient of Brain Korea 21 Plus post-doctoral scientist award of Government of South Korea. – Special Correspondent

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – June 01st, 2016

Now, chicken soup to power your car

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

John Abraham of KVASU at the biodiesel plant set up on the premises of the Veterinary College at Pookode in Wayanad district.— PHOTO: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
John Abraham of KVASU at the biodiesel plant set up on the premises of the Veterinary College at Pookode in Wayanad district.— PHOTO: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A team of researchers of KVASU extract biodiesel from the wastes of slaughtered broiler chicken

Horsepower will stay, but the humble chicken may actually power your car, if a technology model developed at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) in Wayanad gets scaled up to viable commercial production.

For the last one year, a team of researchers led by John Abraham of the university’s School of Bioenergy and Farm Waste Management (SBFWM) have been quietly extracting biodiesel from the wastes of slaughtered broiler chicken, in a small Rs.12-lakh prototype plant.

Patent

For several months now, they have been field-testing this chicken-based fuel in their university’s old multi-utility vehicle (MUV), which goes all over the hill district. The team has applied for a patent on it on behalf of the KVASU, which is pending. The KVASU intends to play the role of technology provider.

The researchers have also run their biodiesel through tests at the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)’s quality control laboratory at its Kochi refinery. They said the tests confirmed that the fuel conformed to exacting BIS standards. Besides, the chicken-sourced biodiesel was also found to have a commendably higher cetane value of 72, as compared to 64 of petro-diesel, which means better efficiency, Dr. John added. It is relatively cheaper too. Even without economies of scale, the small pilot plant incurs a production cost of just around Rs.32 per litre for this fuel (while petro diesel costs Rs.55 or more). At the trial stage, it is being used at 50:50 ratio with petro diesel in normal, unmodified, diesel engines. But it could be used as the sole fuel with some engine modifications, Dr. John said.

With word trickling out, several innovative entrepreneurs, including registered slaughter waste collectors in the neighbouring Kozhikode Corporation, have approached the team for tapping the idea’s commercial potential. The team has already provided a project report for a plant for a consortium, which will be capable of processing up to 40 tonnes of slaughter waste and generating about 1,000 litres of chicken fuel a day. This project is to come up with the collaboration of the Kozhikode Corporation and the District Suchitwa Mission there.

Dr. John, whose doctoral thesis at the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in 2012 was on alternate fuels, said chicken-powered biodiesel had great potential. “In Kerala alone, about 5.3 lakh chicken are slaughtered daily. This means some 350 tonnes of slaughter waste every day, which pose a catastrophic threat to the environment.”

“If this waste is cooked at very high temperatures, 10 per cent of the volume turns extractable oil, another 30 per cent gets converted to animal and pet feed ingredients with 62 per cent protein content that costs a mere Rs.20 per kg to produce,” he said. Almost 96 per cent of this oil could be converted into biodiesel, while a small portion turned into glycerine, which could be used for making soaps and cosmetics, he added. About 10 kilograms of chicken wastes yield one litre of oil, on an average.

But why only chicken waste and not mutton or beef slaughter waste, when these have an equally huge availability in the State? “All ruminants have bio-hydrogenation pathways which saturate fats. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. But mono-gastric animals like chicken lack this pathway. Hence, more unsaturated fatty acids are available in their fats, which turn to oil at room temperature. Biodiesel can only be made from such oils,” Dr. John said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by E.M. Manoj / Kalpetta – May 29th, 2016

NABARD’s lead farm project launched at KVK, Peruvannamuzhi

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives & Environment, Science & Technology

Kozhikode :

ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Peruvannamuzhi launched Lead Enthusiastic Agriculture to Develop (LEAD) aided by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) here the other day.

The scheme envisages demonstrating latest production technologies of spices and vegetables in KVK farm using its technical support. Under the scheme, KVK will work as an Agriculture Incubation Center for farmers, who are ready to venture into scientific cultivation practices. A sum of Rs 7.30 lakh budget outlay has already been earmarked for the project execution.

A meeting of the beneficiaries of the project selected from different parts of Perambra block was held at KVK, where an action plan was prepared for the upcoming season.

Dr P Rathakrishnan, Programme Co-ordinator of ICAR-KVK , Peruvannamuzhi, during the interaction elaborated about the objectives of the project to participants and underlined that the project will help the farmers to gain confidence in adopting proven technologies evolved at research stations on a wider scale. He also added that the field areas of KVK will be used by them to showcase the recent technologies in vegetable and ginger cultivation.

Dr P S Manoj, SMS (Horticulture) and PI of the project also interacted with the participants to clear their doubts about the adoption of technology in farming.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / Sreedevi Chitharanjani, TNN / May 27th, 2016

12-year-old California student ready to start university

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

A 12-year-old Sacramento student who already has three community college degrees and has been accepted to two University of California campuses says he plans on studying biomedical engineering and becoming a doctor and medical researcher by the time he turns 18.

Tanishq Abraham has been accepted to UC Davis and received a regents scholarship to UC Santa Cruz, but he has yet to decide which university he’ll attend, reported Sacramento television station CBS yesterday.

“I think I’ll be 18 when I get my MD,” he said.

Tanishq started community college at age 7 and last year he received associate’s degrees from American River College, a community college in Sacramento, in general science; math and physical science; and foreign language studies.

Professors at the college didn’t initially want him in their classes because of his age. But finally a professor agreed to let him attend if his mother, a doctor of veterinary medicine, also took the class. “There were times when I had to explain general relativity and special relativity to my mom,” he said.

Biology professor Marlene Martinez said he was never afraid to ask lot of questions. “In lecture he would always pop up with ‘so, does that mean …’ or ‘what about this?’ ” Martinez said.

Tanishq, who joined the IQ society Mensa at a tender age of 4 has always picked up knowledge quickly, his father, Bijou Abraham, told NBC News.

“We tested him and discovered that he was pretty smart,” he said. “We were surprised when we started giving him advanced stuff and he was picking it up really fast.”

Tanishq says child geniuses are often seen as odd. “When you think of a genius, you think of a mad scientist kind of thing,” he said.

But he pointed out he’s just an ordinary kid who likes learning and microscopes but also playing video games. “I just think learning is fun,” Tanishq said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> International / PTI / Sacramento – May 23rd, 2016

Set for New Innings

Business & Economy, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion

DrAugustineKERALA 03may2016

Thiruvananthapuram  :

Dr Philip Augustine needs no introduction. For the people of Ernakulam, he was the man who put Koothattukulam Deva Matha Hospital on the map of world health services, when the gastroenterology department he set up there reported some of the rarest diseases in the world. Going forward, Dr Augustine helmed the campaigns to bring changes in the healthcare sector in the state. One of them was the setting up of the Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi in 2005, bringing together some of the brightest doctors in different fields.

Augustine has recently relinquished his post as the Director of Lakeshore Hospital and is all set enter a new phase of his career.

“I think I have reached a point in my life and career where I should focus on broadening my area of activity. As someone who has done a lot for the gastroenterology sector in Kerala, I wish to strengthen the field and inspire the younger generation of doctors to know more about it,” said the doctor.

He has launched Philip Augustine Associates, a firm set up to see his dream through. A subsidiary organization, Kochi Gastroentorology Group, has also been set up to bring together the knowledge of different branches of the field.

“I had three goals to fulfill in my career – setting up a good and world class healthcare facility, ensuring that top notch education facilities are made available for the medical students to learn and creating good research facilities for the advancement of the science. I have done a worthy share in the first two goals and now it is time to focus on the third,” he adds.

Augustine’s achievements

  • Helmed campaigns to bring changes in the healthcare sector in the state
  • Put Koothattukulam Deva Matha Hospital on the map of world health services, when the gastroenterology department he set up there reported some of the rarest diseases in the world
  • Set up Lakeshore Hospital in 2005

Dr Augustine also feels that the rampant corporatisation of healthcare might not bode well for the sector. Even while lauding the innovations corporate hospitals have brought about, he thinks hospitals run purely with a profit motive is not a good idea.

”I am not against corporate hospitals, but I wish there is more space for small and medium hospitals to thrive alongside. That will be good for the public and the healthcare sector in general,” he adds.

Recently, Dr Augustine decided to take up  charge of running the PVS Hospital in Kochi and contribute to the gastroentorology department at the hospital, where he will be a consultant.

I think I have reached a point in my life and career where I should focus on broadening my area of activity. As someone who has done a lot for the gastroenterology sector in Kerala, I wish to strengthen the field and inspire the younger generation of doctors to know more about it 

-Philip Augustine

source: http://www.thenewindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express Features / May 03rd, 2016

Inventor of Vageeswari Camera Passes Away

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

KarunakaranKERALA26apr2016

Alappuzha  :

Inventor of Vageeswari wooden field camera K Karunakaran alias Thankappan, 90, a native of Alappuzha, died here on Tuesday. The Vageeswari cameras were once known as the best field cameras in the world.

These cameras were the contribution of Alappuzha to the world and it was as famous as Nikon and Canon brands. The Vageeswari camera shop and manufacturing company was started by Karunakaran at Mullackal in Alappuzha in 1945.The cremation was held.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / April 20th, 2016

Boost Your Spidey Instincts

Education, Science & Technology

MarianEnggKERALA26apr2016

Thiruvananthapuram :

Remember those good old days when we used to yell out loud ‘I am Spiderman’, mimicking his each and every move, reciting his famous dialogues, yet disappointingly not making it to the gravity-defying Spidey climb! Seems like the students of Marian Engineering College, Thiruvananthapuram, have an answer to our woes!

As a part of their final year project (B Tech Mechanical Engineering), Dheeraj Sudesh M, R Aditya, Selva Manoj R and Sooraj K built a ‘vacuum assisted climber’ under the guidance of Ajith C Menon, assistant professor in the department. “Top twenty videos of the ‘You have been warned’ series kindled the idea in us,” said Selva Manoj, one of the team members.

This project which works against gravity enables one to climb any wall – be it glass, brick or concrete, claim the students. It works on the principle of suction created by the vacuum motors with the help of impellers placed within them. The user can scale his way up by means of a pressure release mechanism with the assistance of two suction pads attached to the backpack and foot stirrups. The machine can climb efficiently up to an height of 30 metres, the students said. However, due to safety considerations they had to limit their testing to ten metres in the college premises.

The machine, which cost around Rs 25,000, works on direct AC current and on a voltage of 220 Volts. It has an extension cord of four metres attached to the backpack to connect it to power supply. The product finds application in military, construction and rescue operations, Sooraj K, the team leader, said. The students said they would like to work further on the product to make it noise-free. This project, which is graded as one of the best one under the Marian Innovation Technology along with two other projects, received a financial aid of Rs 5,000.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / April 26th, 2016

Roger That! Mathachan Ashan Keeps Ham Radio Buzzing

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

Mathachan Ashan operating his ham radio at his residence in Idukki (photo courtesy: Vincent Pulickal)
Mathachan Ashan operating his ham radio at his residence in Idukki (photo courtesy: Vincent Pulickal)

Idukki :

When connectivity is no longer a barrier in this digital age, does using wireless telegraphy for communication make any rational sense? Apparently Yes!

Mathachan Ashan, the first ham radio licensee in the district, is operating it successfully, especially at times of natural calamities.

For Septuagenarian, Puthanpurayil P M Mathew, better known as Mathachan Ashan among his dear and near ones at Ambalakkavala in Kattappana here, ham radio is not just a means of communication, but an integral part of his life. It was in 1982 that he bagged the licence for running a ham radio for the first time in the history of Idukki.

He later upgraded his license to first grade in 1995. The Central Ministry of Communication and Information Technology’s Wireless and Planning and Coordination wing is the authority that provides ham radio licences. Hams have to pass a test consisting of three papers on rules and regulations on ham radio, fundamental theory of radio, and morse code. Now, around 50 hams are there in the district alone.

People used to rely on him for passing urgent messages when even land phones were not so popular and available. So he is still treasuring all his old communication devices. Mathachan Ashan, who got lured into the world of electronics when he happened to see a radio exhibition at his school, also interacts with hundreds of other hams in and out of the country every day through his ham radio.Ham radio plays a crucial role when communication facilities get damaged in disaster like situations and wherever mobile phone coverage is very weak. Even the governments approaches private hams, at times of calamities. The district ham radios were in the forefront to help out the government for communication during Thekkady tragedy and  Pullumedu stampede occurred. Mathachan Ashan remembered how he contacted the relatives of Kattappana natives at the time of Peruman tragedy and Kashmir flood through his ham radio.

“Through the ham radio, I and my friends tracked seven of the doctors from Erankulam who went missing in Kashmir during the flood. “Later, they contacted to thank us. It’s really a great feeling when we realise later that we did a big thing,” says Mathchan Ashan.

source: httpP://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Sruthi Paruthikad / April 25th, 2016

Students devise ways to conserve energy

Education, Green Initiatives & Environment, Science & Technology

ConserveEnergyKERALA22apr2016

Innovative ideas developed by students for energy conservation were on display at the Kerala State Student Energy Congress 2016.

Thirty-seven teams from various districts participated in the event organised as part of the ‘Smart Energy Programme’ of the Energy Management Centre (EMC) on the centre’s premises. Hundred-odd upper primary and high school students from all over the State attended the one-day congress held as part of the EMC’s energy conservation programme.

Aparna V.S. and Kavitha K.M., students of Holy Angels School, Thiruvananthapuram, came up with an idea of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy at a low cost.

They turned a bicycle into an exercise bike which can pump water and generate electricity. Arathy Ramesh and Sreekutty Udayakumar from the Aluva educational district bagged the first prize in high school section. Ayisha and Alsa Bin Shahul Hameed from Kozhikode got the first prize in upper primary section.

S. Somanath, Director, Liquid Propulsion System Centre, gave away the prizes at a function presided over by K.M. Dharesan Unnithan, Director of EMC.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / A Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram – April 21st, 2016