Design Degree Show 2008 - FITT, IIT Delhi
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ISSN-0972-2548
Vol. 14 No. 2 July 2008
Newsletter of Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Professional Development Design Degree Show 2008
Technology transfer is much more than mere economic The design degree show is an annual event that is put up by the M. Des
transaction of a product or process. From a holistic viewpoint it is
students of Industrial Design Programme. This year the Design Degree Show
the process of sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies,
manufacturing methods, samples and facilities among industries, opened on the evening of 9th June 2008 at the Industrial Design Studio, IIT
academia and other organizations to ensure wider dissemination Delhi. The show closed on 13th June 2008.
of scientific and technological developments.
A key component of the technology transfer process thus
involves capacity building initiatives including trainings. One of
the core functions of FITT has been to undertake various
technology centric training programs – very often customized to
enable professional development in key technology domains for
industry and other user organizations. The experience so far has
been the realization about existence of skill shortages and
knowledge gaps across industry segments. Several of our short
and medium duration professional development programs address
several such issues and there is demand for more such outreach
programs. Further to our standard HRD training menu, has been
the introduction of Professional Candidate Registration program
at IIT Delhi designed to foster targeted information dissemination
initially amongst the industrial units and other scientific and
technical organizations in the National Capital Region. The program
proffers relevant but, regular Masters’ course modules in the
Institute to appropriately qualified personnel from industry and
scientific organizations. This is part of our commitment to reach
out to the business and other groups and thus strengthen
Institute – Industry interaction. We believe that the industry
community should latch on to this opportunity to enable
knowledge up-gradation and skill-set enhancement of their key
professionals and thereby leverage on this refreshed resource.
From our perspective this seems a reasonably scalable model that
would also help us address the broad issue of skill-gaps which
seem to haunt the competitiveness of many a business unit!
Anil Wali
FITT invites Proposals from Industries for Collaborative
R&D and Customized Training Programmes
For information please contact
Managing Director
e-mail: mdfitt@gmail.com
FITT invites corporate memberships from
Industries and R&D Organizations
Contact:
Mr. Partha Bhattacharya
e-mail: parthab@fitt.iitd.ernet.in
Contents
G Invited Articles...............................2 of IIT Delhi...................................10 G FITT Workshops / Seminars..............18
G TBIU News.....................................7 G IIT Delhi News..............................12 G Technology Development &
Training Programmes......................19
G Focus on Distinguished Faculty G IPR News......................................17
Invited
Articles
Product Innovation through Rapid Prototyping
T
he term rapid prototyping (RP) materials which include reinforced
refers to a class of technologies It is often said that polymers, metallic materials both ferrous
that can automatically construct & non-ferrous materials, sand, ceramics,
physical models from Computer Aided ‘A picture is worth elastomers and many more. Some of the
Design (CAD) data. Rapid prototyping thousand words’. materials used in rapid prototyping are
machines are like three dimensional printers biocompatible and the parts made of
which allow engineers and industrial By virtue of these materials can be directly used as
designers to quickly create physical artifact implants and scaffolds.
of their designs, rather than just two RP technology now
dimensional pictures. It is often said that one can say that RP models have numerous uses. They
‘A picture is worth thousand words’. By make excellent visual aids for
virtue of RP technology now one can say ‘A physical prototype communicating ideas with co-workers or
that ‘A physical prototype is worth customers. In designing consumer
thousand pictures’. is worth thousand products, RP prototypes are widely used
pictures’. for demonstration of new concepts by
Rapid prototyping also known as both industrial designers as well as design
layered manufacturing or solid free-form engineers. In today’s competitive world
fabrication is an additive process which One of the first successful RP where new products and their variants are
builds product layer by layer, as shown in processes to be introduced in 80’s introduced frequently, RP technology has
the figure below. The very nature of the was Stereolithography in which a facilitated to carry out form, function and
prototype is built by fit studies quickly, thus helping in cutting
curing selected areas down product development time
of photo-curable considerably. Industries involved in making
liquid using a laser. toys, jewellery, handicrafts and footwear
have benefitted immensely by RP
Fused Deposition technology in coming up with new and
Modeling is innovative designs.
another process in
which molten One of the major application areas of
plastic is extruded RP technology is in functional testing of
through a heated new designs. RP Processes like “Selective
nozzle to deposit Laser Sintering” (SLS) can manufacture
material, layer by parts which have mechanical properties
layer. close to that of injection molded parts.
This facilitates complex products to be
Selective Laser fabricated, assembled and tested for
Rapid Prototyping by Layer by Layer Addition
Sintering desired functionality. Wind tunnel studies
technology is using RP parts to measure lift and drag
process does not put any limitation on based on thermal sintering by laser forces is very common. Mechanism
complexity of object which can be scanning selected areas of thin layer synthesis and mobility studies are
realized. This aspect gives geometric of powder. commonly done using RP parts in building
freedom for designers to work with new machines. Some RP processes can
varieties of shapes without any In yet another process known as 3D produce parts which are transparent, thus
manufacturability constraints. RP Printing, powder particles are facilitating experimental stress analysis
processes have been successful in brought together by injecting a using photo-elasticity and visual studies
producing some parts which are otherwise binder through multiple nozzles concerning fluid flows.
not possible to manufacture by any other analogous to an inkjet printer.
known manufacturing processes. RP parts are used for producing indirect
Initial attempts to build RP prototypes and direct tooling for further
Based on the above principle, more were restricted to polymeric materials manufacturing of parts in mass. RP
than 50 technologies have been only which included ABS, nylon, prototypes have been used as patterns for
introduced in last two decades of which polycarbonate etc. Through rigorous sand casting, vacuum casting and
about half a dozen technologies are R&D efforts, the RP technology has now investment casting. Metallic molds made
commercially successful. been extended to numerous other of tool steel and other materials have been
2 FITT Forum - July 2008 N
Invited
Articles
built directly using RP technology. Such in medical field. The medical community developed and introduced which
metallic molds are ideal for low volume is also benefitted by RP made teaching include Polycaprolactone (PCL),
production of plastic parts economically aids used for communication during polypropylene-tricalcium phosphate
as compared to expensive molds used for teaching learning process. The importance (PP-TCP), PCL-hydroxyapatite (HA),
mass production. of RP in medicine is reflected by the fact polyetheretherketone-hydroxyapatite
that there is no portion of the human (PEEK-HA), tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP),
Apart from functional prototypes, and anatomy which has either been influenced beta – tricalcium phosphate (TCP),
tooling needs, RP technology is now by RP or being studied as a future Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
widely used to directly produce useable application area.
products or parts. When RP technology One of the important application areas
is used for producing parts for mass Many commercial RP technologies are of RP includes building surgical guides,
customization, it is often referred as rapid used for making porous structures such as splints to align a patient’s jaws
manufacturing. Rapid manufacturing of required in tissue engineering. Realizing during an operation. Customized dental
parts of Formula 1 racing cars by RP is complex geometric scaffolds for repairing crowns, bridges and other type of
well known. Producing porous RP parts defects caused by accidents, surgery and restorations are now built using RP driven
for gas and liquid filtering is gaining birth is one potential future application investment casting process. Selective Laser
attention. Industries worldwide which area of RP. In order to build parts and Sintering process has been successfully
include Aerospace, marine, defense, products of interest in medicine, new RP used to build bridges, with up to six teeth
automobile, medical, sports, consumer compatible materials have been in cobalt-chrome alloy. Success of RP in
products, electronics have been benefitted producing customized hearing aids is very
by rapid manufacturing of directly useable well known. An interesting application of
parts and products. Many believe that RP in pharmaceuticals industry is in
making pills which can release controlled
One of the largest application areas of
major breakthroughs dosage of drug with time.
RP in recent times has been in biology, using RP are yet to
medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. Most It is needless to say that Rapid
of the RP machines can build prototypes come. It is not Prototyping Technology has influenced
using CT scan and MRI data as input. every sphere of human endeavour. Many
Prototypes, thus built are extremely useful
completely wrong if believe that major breakthroughs using RP
for pre surgery planning and post surgery some say that RP has are yet to come. It is not completely wrong
verification in case of complex surgeries. if some say that RP has the potential to
RP techniques have proven useful in potential to bring bring in the second industrial revolution.
making prostheses and implants for many
years for now. RP route to manufacture
second industrial Prof. P.V. M. Rao
custom hip sockets, knee joints and spinal revolution. Deptt of Mech. Engineering
implants has been kind of breakthrough IIT Delhi
Product Design & Innovation at IIT Delhi through Rapid Prototyping
Product Faculty Contact & Lead Role of RP Remarks
Department
Limited torque bolt Prof.Sudipto Mukherjee Product visualization and The technology has been patented
mechanism Mechanical Engineering demonstration using RP and has been transferred to
Department industry.
Smart cane for visually Prof. M Balakrishnan RP is used for Product The technology has been patented
handicapped Department of Computer demonstration, & feedback, and has been transferred to
Science & Engineering Functional testing, form and industry.
fit iterations, Ergonomic
studies.
Improved and energy Prof. S R Kale RP Models for aerodynamic New blade geometries fabricated
efficient fan blades Mechanical Engineering experiments using RP were proven to be
Department energy efficient (M. Tech. Project)
N FITT Forum - July 2008 3
Invited
Articles
Product Faculty Contact & Lead Role of RP Remarks
Department
Mouth retractor for Prof. L K Das RP Model for concept Product was built as a part
Tonsillectomy surgery IDDC demonstration of M. Des. student project.
A novel and improved Dr. P V Madhusudhan Rao Product synthesis studies using An Indian patent and PCT has
steering system for Mechanical Engineering RP, Product demonstration, & been filed.
automobiles Department feedback, Functional testing
using RP models.
Bus identification Dr. Kolin Paul Design iterations through RP The technology has been
system for visually Department of Computer for form fit and function patented and discussions are on
handicapped Science & Engineering for technology transfer.
Vehicular toys based Prof. L K Das RP for realizing complex Product was built as a part of
on animals IDDC geometry and concept M. Des. student project.
demonstration.
Acoustic vector sensor Dr. Arun Kumar, Center for RP was used to build some critical The product is presently in use
Applied Research in Electronics components in the product. for teaching & research.
Low pressure block Dr. P V Madhusudhan Rao Use of RP process for efficient A patent and PCT has been
manifolds without Mechanical Engineering design of block manifolds approved for filing
construction plug Department
Bicycle vending Prof. M Balakrishnan Functionality testing and This student project was
system lock Department of Computer product configuration demonstrated at PAN IIT
Science & Engineering iterations using RP meet in 2007.
Force sensor using Dr. P M Pandey RP is used for producing A patent has been approved
functionally graded Mechanical Engineering functionally graded material for filing
material Department
Elegant bath fittings Prof. L K Das RP Model for concept Product was built as a part of
IDDC demonstration and realizing M. Des. student project.
complex geometries
Artifacts for teaching Dr. A Darpe Preparation of visual aids Used for teaching engineering
engineering design Mechanical Engineering by RP for teaching engineering design MEN 110 course by
Department design concepts faculty.
Passenger bus Dr. S V Veeravalli RP Models for wind tunnel Wind tunnel tests on RP parts
aerodynamics with Applied Mechanics testing were performed at National
open windows Department Wind Tunnel Test Facility, Kanpur.
Sheep shearing Prof. S K Saha Mechanism synthesis studies Development of sheep shearing
machine Mechanical Engineering using RP models machine is a sponsored research
Department project at IIT Delhi
An alternate appliance Prof. L K Das RP for realizing parts with Product was built as a part of
for cleaning cloths IDDC geometric complexity. M. Des. student project.
Electro-mechanical Dr. P V Madhusudhan Rao RP models for concept Product was built as a part of
playing-card shuffler Mechanical Engineering demonstration MEP 202 (Design, Innovation &
Department Manufacturing Course)
4 FITT Forum - July 2008 N
Invited
Articles
Research on Impact Biomechanics at IIT Delhi
C
rash modeling has been used very effectively in OECD 1. Quasi-Static Compression Tests estimate static material
countries to redesign cars to protect the occupant even characteristics. This data is useful in predicting a part of
in 60 kmph crashes. Our focus has been on Vulnerable the dynamic response.
Road Users (VRU) outside the car, as they constitute a majority
of crash victims in India; airbag studies with special focus on its 2. A Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar, uses wave propagation
use for two wheelers. This group has been one of the pioneers principles to study the behaviour of material at varying
in studying crashes between motorcycles and cars in line with strain rates. Strain rates of 100/s to 2000/s upto 50%
the ISO 13232 standards and airbag studies with special focus strain has been achieved.
on its use for two wheelers through FE simulation. We have
also been analyzing the crash behaviour when pedestrian and 3. Impact tests on soft tissues at impact speeds of upto
bicyclists impact cars and bigger commercial vehicles like buses. about 8 m/s with a 1kg impactor on specimens of
Through this, vehicle fronts that are kinder to VRUs are emerging. 5-15mm thickness upto 50% strain.
Through the development of multibody dynamics codes, we
have been studying crash initiation problems like rollovers. These Using all three
models are used as input to FE models to study the injury during rigs, we have been
crash and design changes required to protect the occupants. able to conduct
The ability to work with the complete cycle, site data recording, dynamic tests on
crash reconstruction, multibody dynamics, experimental human body soft
characterizing of impact and dynamic FE has enabled this group tissues at strain rates
to study crash issues India specific devices like the autorikshaw ranging from about
and Mini-Buses. 0/s to about 2000/
s. This figure shows
Biomechanics in the 60’s was concerned with mechanics a typical variation
associated with rehabilation and sports. Computation and hence obtained from these Figure: Typical variation obtained in stress-
prediction and subsequently design to mitigate impacts evolved experiments. strain response with strain rate
in the 70’s. Multibody dynamic models were developed that
predicted the global kinematics in impact situations. The Obtaining dynamic properties of ligaments:
representation of geometry of the body improved significantly The variation in mechanical properties of ligaments with strain
with advances in medical images (MRI, CT Scans, X-rays and rate and the energy of the impact has been studied. We have
Body Cross-Section). With advances in computational capabilities focussed on the ligaments in the knee region with an eye on
and improvements in Finite Element software, it is now possible pedestrian impacts that constitute a bulk of injuries in India.
to work with 3D Finite Element (FE) models of various human Rigs to measure quasi-static and dynamic properties of human
organs, region and even the complete human body. In addition,
to simulating global kinematics such FE Human Body models
can compute local stresses and strains.
It is accepted that as, accurate constitutive model of the
human tissues are available, these FE models are better
representations of performance of humans under impact
behaviour as compared to ATDs or multibody models. FE models
have three major advantages: 1. Accurate geometry
representation, 2. Good contact-impact algorithm, 3. Deformable
material characterization. In the Mechanical Engineering
Department of IIT, we have been working at the forefront of
different aspects of human body FE model development. Some
of these are mentioned below.
Characterization of soft tissues under
impact:
Dynamic tests have been designed to characterize the tissues Ligament testing apparatus
under impact conditions. The data obtained from these tests
are used to update and validate FE based simulations. The aim ligaments have been developed. Initial results indicate that the
is to extend the material models available to dynamic conditions. dynamic properties are at significant variance from the static
The tests developed include the following: properties and hence FE models used need to reflect this effect.
N FITT Forum - July 2008 5
Invited
Articles
Dynamic properties of human cartilages that the starting
and alternate materials for cartilages in mesh is consistent,
joint replacements. without any
Rigs to test the impact properties of human cartilages are penetrations or
being developed which are to be used to test artificial materials mesh quality
as well as animal tissues. The rigs, coupled with a process of problems and would
Finite Element Based Inverse Characterization and Wave be meeting a
Propagation based analysis will then be used to measure the known time step
impact properties of human cartilages. In collaboration with criterion. In FE
the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), we hope to terms, the problem
get data on the impact properties from different body regions. is to obtain an FE
Simultaneously, another collaborator in this effort, The mesh for the human
Mechanical Engineering Department at University of body defined in
Birmingham will test biomimetic material in their material terms of some
simulators. Some selected materials will also be tested on the characteristic key
test in IIT to characterize them dynamically. Through the study points through
of dynamic compatibility of the alternative materials transformation of a
with human cartilages and the response thereof we aim to human body FE
identify/develop synthetic materials that can possibly replace model consisting of
damaged tissues. shell, solid and bar
elements in one Figure: FE model of the lower leg used in study of
Obtaining dynamic properties of human initial position. affect of active muscles under impact conditions
bones:
We have been conducting bending tests on whole bones to Crash data collection and accident
characterize them through the inverse FE procedure. High speed reconstruction:
photography upto 10,000 frames per second in conjunction Collecting road crash data is a well established procedure in
with drop setups developed in-house, is used to this end. We OECD countries of the world. However, this is yet to be initiated
are now developing machines for characterizing small specimen in India. Such accident data is necessary from a policy planner as
of bones in dynamic loading. The machines in use for soft well as a vehicle designer’s perspective. In a Transportation Ministry
funded project concluded in July 2006, about 140 vehicular
crashes were recorded. In a new broader effort we have proposed
four different centres in Delhi and one at a selected highway
location. Through liaison with the Delhi Traffic Police and trauma
centres, AIS classification of resulting injuries is targeted.
Through damage measurement of the vehicles involved,
“delta-V” or the velocities before the accident would be
estimated. A database on the line of the CCIS database in UK is
Figure: Three point impact test being conducted on a bone. proposed, that can be extended to cover the whole country.
Cluster analysis of this data and accident reconstructions of
tissue testing would be redesigned for this purpose. We hope 100 cases is targeted to demonstrate the analysis potential and
to be able to capture the variation of strain dependent material understand the demographics of the crashes.
properties across the length of the cross section of bones.
The above figure shows a picture of a bone under 3-point Acknowledgements: The above work has been made
impact test. possible only through an extensive support from our collaborators
as well as sponsors. The collaborators include All India Institute
Development of a tool for scaling Human of Medical Sciences, Birmingham Automotive Safety Centre,
Body FE models: University of Birmingham, University of Strasbourg, France,
Given that any data obtained for humans is for a unique University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA, Transportation
individual, two intrinsic problems are posed. How is a Research and Injury Prevention Program, IIT Delhi and our
measurement done on a specific specimen relevant to model sponsors include Mercedez-Benz, R&D India; General Motors;
building in general? The second is how we can tune a generic Japan Automobile Research Institute; Volvo Research Foundation;
FE model to better predict the response of an individual. Ashok Leyland India; Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI
and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Developing a human body FE model in a given position
takes many man years. A tool to reduce the time required to Prof. S. Mukherjee & Prof. A. Chawla
reposition and scale the model is being worked on. It is expected Deptt of Mechanical Engineering, IITD
6 FITT Forum - July 2008 N
TBIU
News
Government Develops Schemes for More Industry,
Academia Interaction
Mechartes Researchers is Rs.15 crore, and CSIR has
Pvt Ltd, a company that was funded less than half of that
incubated at IIT-Delhi for three amount. We cannot reveal the
years and will move out of the exact amount but the CSIR fund
campus in August. Mechartes varies from project to project,”
designs earthquake-proof said Vishal Chandra, Chief
buildings and also optimizes executive officer of VirtualWire
ventilation and air circulation Technologies. According to
services in buildings. Chandra, there are just three
government schemes that really
VirtualWire Technologies benefit start-ups such as his.
Pvt Ltd., a company that CSIR’s scheme; the ‘Support
operates in the area of wireless International Patent Protection in
data that was incubated at IIT- Electronics and IT (SIP-EIT)’
Delhi and has moved out of scheme announced by the
campus, received funding ministry last year; and the
around 10 months back for the financial assistance provided by
research and development of its so called ultrawide bandchip the Technology Development Board (TDB) constituted by the
for short-range wireless applications and personal computers Government in 1996 as a statutory body under the Department
and laptops, from the Council of Scientific and Industrial of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Research (CSIR) under its New Millenium Indian Technology
Leadership Initiative, or NMIT-LI. “The total cost of our project (Source: Mint 08-04-08)
Google Sees Big Biz for IITs Take Start-up
Mobile Search Mentoring Pan-India
I
nternet search engine leader Google Inc. expects more mobile
S
subscribers in India to use its SMS or text-based search service for ixteen cities hosted mentoring sessions for 1020
local information, such as on restaurants and movie timings, than in entrepreneurs on Republic Day as part of the
the US, the world’s largest Internet search market where the company pan-IIT Entrepreneurship Mentoring Event
began offering the service more than three years ago. Local start-ups organized by alumni of the Indian Institutes of
such as SM Onyomo Infotech Pvt Ltd and Suncom Infotech Pvt Ltd, Technology (IITs), along with The Indus Entrepreneurs
both based in New Delhi, have built a database of business listings to and the National Entrepreneurship Network. While
offer such services to users. But the response has been mixed from it was an afternoon of mentoring in most cities,
mobile phone subscribers. the day-long event in Bangalore included a
showcase of 12 start-ups and talks by venture
(Source: MINT, 29-3-2008) capitalists and past-entrepreneurs. The start-ups that
made presentations included a mix of concept stage
products by students and companies that have been
operating for a few years. The event ended with a
simultaneous 16-city live web-cast from Hyderabad
of a speech by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The programme saw an entrepreneurial mix of 120
students, 540 start-ups, 140 growth-stage
companies and 220 working professionals across
the country, including cities such as Bhubaneshwar
and Guwahati.
(Source: MINT, 29-01-2008)
N FITT Forum - July 2008 7
TBIU
News
Appin Security Group LeadInvent
A
ppin Security Group’s major
success was procuring
information security audit,
Engine, currently a semi-automated
engine that does security audit and Technologies
provides detailed patching assistance to
L
implementation or management clients clients. Appin Radar has been and is eadInvent is a life sciences
such as Hindustan Times, Tulip IT, currently being built exclusively at Appins company focussed at New Drug
Ballarpur Industries, Jaypee Group, India incubation unit at IIT Delhi. Discovery. LeadInvent is based
Today, IFFCO TOKYO and GHIAL (GMR out of Technology Business Incubation
Hyderabad International Airport). These For further information contact: Unit at Indian Institute of Technology
clients were provided Information security Mr. Anuj Khare Delhi. LeadInvent is presently working
in a mixed model, with consultants TBIU Block- I, IIT Delhi on several drug design projects at
present onsite working in co-ordination E-mail: anuj.khare@appingroup.com various stages. Some of the key
with Security Operation Center projects are:
professionals working offsite. For
GHIAL, Appin got a 2 year contract a) Collaborative project between
for providing comprehensive LeadInvent and AIIMS on finding
Information Security to Hyderabad novel molecules for Tuberculosis
International airport. These clients which is funded by DBT under
were served using Appin Radar SBIRI project.
b) Industrial project between
LeadInvent and Ranbaxy.
c) Internal projects on Cancer and
Diabetics.
For further information contact:
LeadInvent Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
TBIU Module 5 & 6
IIT Delhi
Care Pro Biotechnologies Company’s main focus is
towards:
Care Pro Biotechnologies (CPBt), a of ecofriendly and cost effective microbial G The development of microbial consortium
TBIU, IIT, Delhi company is engaged in products and technologies for betterment for reclamation of sodic and saline soil and
research for development of of agriculture and environment, with a its validation at laboratory level, reclamation
philanthropic technology and highly dedicated team of research scientist at pilot project and farmer’s field level.
bioproducts. In the changing world and experts and functional collaboration G Isolation and characterization of plant growth.
where agriculture, environment and with many key R&D organizations and Promoting bacteria from sugarcane plants.
ecology should be the prime importance, universities in the country, using recent
CPBt is endeavouring for development trends and tools of biotechnology. G Development of a common PGPR consortium
for rice, wheat, maize and sugarcane.
G Fermentation based high quality microbial
products for agriculture and environmental
use.
G Bioremediation of petroleum contaminated
sites by the use of microbial products.
G Enzymes to be used in animal feeds.
For further information contact:
Mrs. Shyama Prasad Singh
Care Pro Biotechnologies
TB-I, Block-I, TBIU, IIT Delhi
8 FITT Forum - July 2008 N
TBIU
News
EnNatura Technology Ventures [ P ] Ltd
E
nNatura team has been Vegetable oil based inks
actively involved in the are washable with a
development of vegetable proprietary “VOC free
oil based environment friendly wash solution” as opposed
inks. The company has to hydrocarbon solvents
successfully completed the that are used as wash
process development for the solutions for conventional
bench-scale production of inks, making it only VOC
multi-colour (CMYK) inks and free ink in the country;
are currently engaged in pilot
scale process development and Being developed on a
commercialization of these inks renewable raw materials
under the brand name-Litho-Natura Inks. platform, ink costs and printing costs are lower vis-a-vis petroleum
based inks.
Product offers following health and
economic benefits: For further information please contact:
Litho-Natura Inks are free of any Volatile Organic Compounds Mr. Sidhartha K. Bhimania
(VOCs) that are present in the conventional petroleum based EnNatura Technology Ventures (P) Ltd.
inks, ensuring a cleaner pressroom and safer TBIU, IIT Delhi
environment; E-mail: skbhimania@gmail.com
SM OnYoMo Mecharte’s
Researchers
O
nYoMo has actively launched have now been integrated into
SMS Store Locator service with Reliance’s R-World, and all Reliance
M
a couple of large brands within subscribers that have access to the R- echartes provide services
India. SMS Store Locator service allows World portal can now access the and develop software
customers of a brand to locate their service. OnYoMo is currently in the products in the domain of
nearest brand outlet by sending out an process of launching its services on SMS Computer Aided Designing (CAD), Finite
SMS specifying their preferred location, in association with a large media Element Methods (FEM) and
and the service responds back with company. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
nearest brand outlets to that location. Mechartes uses a combination of
Clients have included The MobileStore, On the internet front, OnYoMo analytical and numerical tools to simulate
LG, Acer, Lenovo. On the mobile based recently launched a points based system real life phenomenon and compare them
local search front, OnYoMo’s services to closely integrate its users with the with experimental observations. The
OnYoMo service. Here, any user that company’s focus is on providing
makes positive contributions to the following services:
service in form of Reviews, Votes on
Issues, Invitations to friends etc is Thermal & Flow Analysis; Acoustic
awarded points that can be redeemed Analysis; Crash Analysis; Vibration and
against a set of items such as movie Modal Analysis; Structural and Stress
tickets, online shopping/flight/hotel Analysis
booking discounts etc.
For further information, contact:
For further information contact: Mr. Shishir Kumar Gupta,
Mr. Shailesh Mehta Mechartes Researchers Pvt Ltd
OnYoMo TBIU, Block -1, Module 2, TBIU Block
Extension Suite 7 IIT Delhi
IIT Delhi E-mail: shishir@mechartes.com
E-mail: info@onyomo.com
N FITT Forum - July 2008 9
Focus on Distinguished
Faculty of IIT Delhi
Focus on Distinguished Faculty of IIT Delhi
Professor Ashok N. Bhaskarwar earned his B.Tech. from L.I.T., with water with either a slightly elevated or lowered pH. These
Nagpur, in 1981, M.E. (1983) and Ph.D. in 1987 from IISc, products are expected to pave the way for a whole new spectrum
Bangalore; all, fortunately, in Chemical Engineering and notably of “absolutely zero-pollution” products and technologies
from within the “mother of all nations”. He had post-doctoral like textile-fiber finishing, pharmaceutical processes, floor and
stints at LPT (State University of Gent), Belgium, and IISc. He wood polishes, photolithography for making microelectronic
was later a Visiting Professor at CEMS (University of Minnesota), circuits, and agents for de-icing of airplanes in extreme-cold
USA, during 1995. weather conditions, etc. Printing inks of the new kind based on
vegetable drying oils and pH-sensitive synthetic functional resins
He was inspired by the wonderful spell of elementary have already become a commercially successful product and
Chemistry, and decided to be a researcher and a teacher at a patents for the pH-sensitive resins and temperature-
rather ripe age of 11. The questions (and no answers, of course!) sensitive polymers synthesized from locally available ingredients
about existence of God and considerations of required twin and ink formulations made thereof have been applied for.
paths of exploration (renunciation and mortification) arrived two Recently, based on the first of these inks, a start-up has been
years later, and were thoughtfully but quickly deferred to the launched (EnNatura Technology Ventures Pvt. Ltd.) at IIT-
next birth although not entirely happily! Paradoxically, even the Delhi in June 2007 to manufacture these novel printing inks,
abandoned ideas of a child continue to influence his sphere of under a technology-incubation program of FITT.
later existence and activities. Like a ripple in the universe of
mind reverberating in the mind of the universe! Current work of his research group explores, besides pH, the
more benign temperature as a “switch” for washing of
His choice of Chemical Engineering over Chemistry for a inks. The latest advance made in formulating microemulsion-
career was a pragmatic acceptance of the principle of based inks eliminates the need for any “switch” at all. The
irreversibility, rather than any knowledge of having made a “late theory for washing of the newest ink has also been developed
start”. Blissfully, time did not exist then in the company of based on the observation of spontaneous emulsification and
modeled through the instability of jets leading to
These products are expected to pinched-off droplets in a regular array of water
pave the way for a whole new and oil micro-domains at the ink-drop – wash
boundary.
spectrum of “absolutely zero-
pollution” products and Other industrially significant work has targeted
technologies like textile-fiber the recovery of oil from tough emulsion effluents
finishing, pharmaceutical such as of steel-rolling mills and other mechanical
processes, floor and wood and chemical process industries. New continuous
polishes, photolithography for recovery processes based on colloidal-gas-
aphrons flotation or microfoam flotation and
making microelectronic circuits, on alternating current electro-coagulation,
and agents for de-icing of and the combination of these two techniques
airplanes in extreme-cold have been developed and IPR applications also
weather conditions, etc. recently filed.
loving parents, friends, books, and a rural setting – a perfect Foams and froths are promising media for removal of
world with no competition. pollutants in air using small amounts of liquids.
Dr. Bhaskarwar and his students have extensively investigated
Over the years, he has developed and combined his expertise foam-bed reactors and froth-bed reactors, both
in chemical reaction engineering, interfacial engineering, experimentally and theoretically, for conducting gas-liquid reactions
and transport phenomena to design new pollution- over the past 26 years. The high gas-liquid interfacial areas, long
preventing products and technologies. In parallel, his work times of contact, and moderate pressure drops in these novel
also extended to fundamentals governing novel pollution- reactors are ideally suited to removing gaseous pollutants,
control devices, re-refining of oil, alternative fuels, and including the chief green-house gas, namely, carbon dioxide.
purification of water, besides the basics of environmental
science and chemical process engineering. The current quantitative understanding of foam-bed reactors
has also been used to develop a design procedure for a system
His work on pollution-preventing inks has provided the of foam-bed reactors in series, which would be useful in practice.
key scientific understanding of the no-VOCs (volatile-organic New chemical techniques of production of near-micron sized
compounds) based line of products which could be washed barium carbonate particles have also been achieved recently.
10 FITT Forum - July 2008 NFocus on Distinguished
Faculty of IIT Delhi
Monte Carlo simulation of flow of fluids through problem of splitting of water molecules through
porous media would help pave the way to develop novel photo-catalytic and photo-electrochemical routes
experimental methods, being investigated in his Laboratory, to economically.
recover residual oil in reservoirs which accounts for the
low petroleum recoveries currently possible. This is an Alongside, a sizable consortium of faculty colleagues is
important area of practical application of the very best in exploring with him the area of thermo-chemical cyclic S-I
chemical engineering, if we have to have any real hope for process in quest of the clean fuel of future, namely, hydrogen.
petroleum after about 2039. Would nature eventually relent to the brave souls?
For the present, a new alternative fuel based on
microemulsions has been developed which would reduce Professor Ashok N. Bhaskarwar
the pollutants in vehicular exhausts and eliminate the Petrotech Chair Professor
respirable particulate matter completely. Consonantly, a Department of Chemical Engineering
new environment-friendly re-refining technology has Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
been developed. Finally, the ongoing research of his group e-mail: ashoknb@chemical.iitd.ernet.in
is tackling the difficult, but again critically important, Website:www.ashoknbhaskarwar.freeservers.com
Dr. Anshul Kumar is currently the Philips Chair Professor in the Prof. Kumar has been associated with the annual
Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi and also the Head International Conference on VLSI Design since its
of the Mathematics Department. He has been associated with IIT inception in 1985 and contributed to its growth in various
Delhi since 1969 when he joined the Institute as an undergraduate capacities. He is a General Co-Chair for the forthcoming
student. He graduated in 1974 with a B.Tech. degree in Electrical conference in 2009. He has also contributed
Engineering and was awarded the President’s Gold Medal for professionally through various national level committees
obtaining the first rank in all disciplines. Subsequently, he obtained including, Working Group on Microelectronics and Advisory
his Ph.D. degree from IIT Delhi in 1980 in the area of Computer Committee for CDAC.
Aided Design of Digital Systems.
Since 1984 he has been with the faculty of the
Prof. Kumar’s main areas of
Department of Computer Science and Engineering research interest are VLSI
at IIT Delhi, where he became a Professor in 1990 synthesis, embedded systems
and Head of the Department during 1998-2001. design methodology and high
He has been the Dean of Undergraduate Studies performance computer
during 2003-06 and has served in other key architectures and he has
positions like Coordinator of the School of
Information Technology, Coordinator of the VLSI
published more than 100
Design, Tools and Technology Program and research papers in reputed
Coordinator of Computer Applications Program. journals and proceedings of
refereed international
Prof. Anshul Kumar has held visiting conferences.
appointments at Univ of Southern California Los
Angeles (1981-82), University of Edinburgh (1987),
KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) Stockholm (1995-96, 1997) In 2002, along with some colleagues and graduating students
and EPFL (Federal Institute of Technology Laussane) (2001). of his department, he founded a start-up company called Kritikal
Solutions under the Technology Business Incubation Program
Prof. Kumar’s main areas of research interest are VLSI synthesis, of IIT Delhi. He has served it in various capacities including
embedded systems design methodology and high performance Hon. Chairman, Hon. Director and Mentor and helped it grow
computer architectures and he has published more than 100 nearly tenfold.
research papers in reputed journals and proceedings of refereed
international conferences. He has guided 10 Ph.D.’s and more Recently he received the ACM Transaction on Design
than 80 M.Tech./B.Tech. projects. His research has been Automation of Electronic Systems (TODAES) 2007 Best Paper
supported by the Department of Electronics/ Ministry of Award for a paper coauthored with a colleague and a student.
Communication and Information Technology, Naval Research
Board, ANURAG (Defence Lab) and NXP Semiconductors. He Prof. Anshul Kumar
has also been a consultant to Gateway Design Automation Department of Computer Sciences & Engineering (CSE) &
(now Cadence Design Systems), Technology Parks Ltd, ST Head, Department of Mathematics, IIT Delh
Microelectronics and Poseidon Design Systems. Email: ansul@cse.iitd.ernet.in
N FITT Forum - July 2008 11IIT Delhi
News
Record Number of Delhi’s Power Structure
Tech PhDs from IIT-
I
n times when energy conservation and eco-friendly technologies
are setting the agenda worldwide, a research student at IIT
Delhi Delhi has found a way to make houses comfortable through
the year, relying on the sun rather than electricity. The secret to
these power houses lies in their building material and shape. Arvind
A
whopping 140 PhDs in engineering disciplines Chel, a Ph.D student at IIT’s Centre for Energy Studies (CES), has
were awarded by IIT Delhi last year, the most used bricks on the
ever in the Institute’s history. The reason is the outer layer of an
changing nature of private-sector operations in India in inverted U-shaped
recent years, say experts. “Research in engineering is in, mud house that
and career prospects of PhDs are changing,” said M. prevents erosion
Balakrishnan, Dean, Post Graduate Studies and Research, during rains and
IIT Delhi. “Industrial research and development is harsh weather
becoming big in India. Today, the private sector employs conditions. This
PhDs in all disciplines-automobiles, energy, environment, s t r u c t u r e
materials.” The returns, in monetary terms, are attractive comprising six
as well. “A PhD in any engineering discipline is today rooms, says Chel,
paid between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 16 lakh per annum,” is four to five times
said Balakrishnan. “Companies such as Yahoo and more energy
Google, which work with new technologies, pay the efficient than
highest,” he said. modern day RCC (reinforced cement concrete) structures and can
be built both in rural and urban areas.
(Source: The Hindustan
Times, 08-05-2008) (The Sunday Express, June 1, 2008)
School Students Taken on a Tour of IIT Campus
IIT Delhi opened its gates for the city’s inventions of students and the faculty am to 5 pm and was a huge hit, IITD
school students on Saturday. Over 1500 are put on display for the public. This students said. “We had set up a JEE
students from different schools across the time IITD took the initiative to invite desk where school students asked us for
city got a chance to interact with the schools to visit the campus between 9 tips to make it to IIT. They had so many
students of IIT Delhi for the first time questions in mind. In school, students
during its annual Open House event on usually know if they want to become a
Saturday. The engineers-in-the-making at civil engineer or a computer engineer.
IITD counselled aspiring engineers while But to know what the course really entails
showing them around on the campus. and what its scope is, we made the
As IIT hosted Open House I2 Tech 2008, students meet IITD faculty also,” said
aspiring engineers and science Geetika Bajaj, who is doing a PhD in
enthusiasts got a flavour of life at IIT by Physics at IIT. Even as senior school
visiting laboratories, using equipment and students were busy seeking tips, their
checking out innovative cars and jazz juniors were much fascinated by the
robots. “We got an over whelming Formula-1 car with 600 cc sports bike
response from students in our ‘Meet the engine developed by IITD students. In
Students’ programme. We had organized fact, the gaming robots developed by19
guided tours for them in which our IITD students was an absolute show-
volunteers took them on a round of all stealer. The other eye-catching projects
departments and labs. They learnt what by IITD students were the earthquake-
it is like studying at IIT,” said Prof. Subrat resistant hut, smart homes, smart cane
Kar, Chairperson, IITD Open House. IIT for blind, bio-fuels and cycle-turned
Delhi has been organizing the technology pedal-boat.
fest, I2 Tech, for four years now in which
the research projects and innovative (Source: Times of India, 20-4-2008)
12 FITT Forum - July 2008 NIIT Delhi
News
Professional Candidates Registration@IIT Delhi
IIT Delhi understands part-time M.Tech interest in a regular course at IIT Delhi.
requires a high intensity commitment (subject to acceptance by the
of 3 years and Ph.D. even more. Dept./Centre). Course fee ranges
Unfortunately, not everyone has from Rs.15000/- to Rs.20000/- for a 42
the time for making such a long term hour lecture course spread over a
high-intensity commitment. Just choose semester of 16 weeks. In the coming
a course ( from nearly 400 + years, fr a few select courses, IITD has
courses offered each semester) plans to reach your sites using two way
that you would like to attend video links.
and register for it. For the first
time, it is possible to get the feel For details, please contact :
and benefit of IIT Delhi education MD, FITT, IIT Delhi.
with just an application form showing E-mail: mdfitt@gmail.com
New Source for Bio-CNG Production
It is the result of two-year-long trials with help from IIT, Delhi.
It is the first indigenously made bio-CNG plant in the country.
J
AIPUR: Vehicle owners who use eco- launch programme appreciated the quality cheaper than the petro-based CNG. The
friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) of the gas produced at the plant. plant with a capacity of 85 cubic metres
here in the Rajasthan Capital would costs Rs.7 lakh to come up. Sanjay
soon be making a beeline for an unusual “The plant will provide better quality Vajpayee, senior scientist with the
destination—the local gaushala. After gas than CNG based on petro-carbon Central Science and Technology
supplying cow’s milk, value-added items sources,” affirmed B. Subba Rao, senior Department, said five more such plants
from cow urine and medicines based on scientist from IIT Delhi. are on the anvil in Rajasthan.
cow products over the years, the Gandhian
institution, Rajasthan Gau-Sewa Sangh, has Former SEBI (Securities and Exchange “The cow is Kamadhenu (the cow
entered into a new area: bio-CNG. Board of India) chief D. R. Mehta, who goddess which fulfils all wishes). If
presided over the brief function to mark properly utilised, cows can solve all the
Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand the launch of the plant, however, talked problems we are facing now,” quipped
Kataria inaugurated a bio-CNG plant, about the rather disappointing experiments Rajasthan Gau-Sewa Sangh chairman
which can produce 24 kg of gas daily the groups had in Kanpur and Gorakhpur Bhanwar Lal Kothari.
from cow-dung, at the Durgapura-based in the past. The one-plant Jalgaon gaushala
cow-yard here on Monday. The plant, is proving self-sustainable, he noted. Rajasthan reportedly has 22,200 gau-
commercially operational now, is the shalas and just imagine, the State is sitting
result of two-year-long trials with the The production cost of 1 kg of bio- over a gas field!
support of the Science and Technology CNG is Rs.15-16, which is much (The Hindu, June 25, 2008)
Department of the Union Government and
technical know-how from IIT Delhi.
Kerala Quotes IIT-Delhi Study to Argue
“The cow should be made more relevant
for the present day connecting it with
Mullaperiyar Dam is Unsafe
economy. People would no more keep the
cow for piety,” Mr. Kataria said referring
to the economics of the holy cow.
G iving a new dimension to the
dispute about the safety of the
Mullaperiyar dam, Kerala on Tuesday
heavy rain and consequent flooding.
The team members comprised of
Prof. A.K. Gosain & Dr. Subash Chander
said a team of experts from IIT, Delhi, from IIT Delhi.
The 85 cubic metres capacity plant at has concluded after a study that the
the Gau Sewa Sangh is said to be the first present dam would prove to be (Source: Times of India,
indigenously made bio-CNG plant in the “hydrologically unsafe” in the event of July 02, 2008)
country. The scientists who joined the
N FITT Forum - July 2008 13IIT Delhi
News
Variable Length Rack & Pinion System
Dr. P.V.M. Rao and Dr S K Saha
Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT Delhi
T
he purpose of steering linkage in automobiles is to provide rack in a predictable manner. The proposed variable-length rack
pure rolling motion to all four wheels when turning. In and pinion system can be used to achieve the desired motion
order to provide pure rolling to the road wheels and to without any error during the entire range of motion and not at a
reduce slip of the tires, and consequently, their wear and tear, a few places as is possible with fixed-length rack. This type of rack
steering linkage must handle the vehicle to follow Ackermann and pinion system is shown in the figure. In this case the
condition. In commercial automobiles, Ackermann condition is conventional rack is replaced with a new rack assembly.
satisfied only for one or two turning radii and is never satisfied
for all turning radii of the car. The link lengths of an RPS linkage It is not sufficient to vary the rack length but rack length
are chosen or optimized in such a manner that Ackermann should be varied in a predictable manner to reduce/eliminate
condition is satisfied as closely as possible for different turning the error between desired motion and the motion obtained, to
radii. The steering error which zero. In order to achieve this suitable
measures non-conformance to mechanical modifications have been
Ackermann condition should be ideally done in the proposed new system
zero for free turning of wheels with based on design calculations.
pure rolling motion.
©FITT, IIT Delhi 2008 An Indian
We propose a novel system where patent application and a PCT
conventional rack is replaced with a International application have been
new rack assembly to eliminate the error filed in the name of Indian Institute
between desired motion and the of Technology Delhi in r/o of the above
motion obtained. The purpose of new work.
rack assembly is to vary the length of
Novel Structural Mechanical Designs and Systems for Indusrial Applications
S.No. Title
1 A novel hingeless foldable and unfoldable device and mechanism for robotic applications
2 An improved intershaft squeeze film damper device
3 A novel trenchless steerable drilling machine
4 An automatic light transmission measurement device
5 A method and system for monitoring vibrations of rotating blades of turbines
6 Universal electrode holder for shielded metal arc welding and method of use thereof
7 A novel torch assembly for submerged arc welding
8 A novel limiting torque bolt mechanism for irreversible locking of nuts
9 A novel Rack and Pinion System for overcoming ackermann error
10 A novel design of pilfer proof, collapsable, secure, light weight box / container for packaging applied
11 Hand tools used by the craftsmen engaged in the carpet industries of India
12 Novel design of solar cells with more efficient back panel insulation and heatflow
13 Low pressure block manifolds without construction plugs
14 Force sensor using functionally graded material
15 Biaxial tensile test fixture for uniaxial machines
16 A folding mechanism for folding flat structures
17 A folding/unfolding transport container and a method of folding and unfolding a transport container
14 FITT Forum - July 2008 NIIT Delhi
News
National Technology Day Professors to Turn
Entrepreneurs
T
he National Technology Day was celebrated in the Institute on May 13,
2008 under the aegis of FITT in the Senate room of IIT Delhi. There were
two lectures—one by Prof. C.V. Ramakrishna from the Department of
Applied Mechanics, IIT Delhi; the other talk was delivered by Commodore Now
(Dr) R.K.Rana, Additional Principal Director, Directorate of Naval Design,
I
Ministry of Defence, n a move that would transform knowledge
Government of India. professionals into entrepreneurs, the
government plans to allow professors and
The first talk was research scholars to set up commercial entities
delivered by Prof. while being employed in academic institutes.
Ramakrishna on Academics will also be allowed to invest their
“Open Source knowledge and skills to pick up equity stakes
Technology for in companies. For instance, a scholar may
Engineering Software offer his skills and knowledge to a company
Application; the to pick up equity in it. The model is on the
second talk delivered lines of the ones followed at renowned
by Commodre Rana institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of
was on “Emerging Technology,
Ship Propulsion Stanford and
Technologies“. There University of
was a lively Cambridge.
discussion at this The scheme
event. The event was chaired by Prof. B.N. Jain, DD(F) IIT Delhi. The vote of would help
thanks was proposed by Dr. Anil Wali, MD, FITT. c e n t r a l
universities
and premier
DMRC & IIT Delhi start Course in institutes such
as IITs, IISc, NIT
Metro Technology and JNU
attract talent.
A Cabinet note
T
o develop a cadre of Metro academicians and DMRC experts in this regard
specialists, Delhi Metro Rail have jointly developed the contents is already in
Corporation (DMRC) has of the course keeping in mind circulation.
collaborated with Indian Institute of professional requirements as metro Under the law,
Technology (IIT), Delhi, to start a new engineers. IIT Delhi has already academics and
post-graduate professional course for started screening process to take first institutes including government promoted
young engineers. The post graduate batch of engineering graduates for societies, availing income-tax benefits are not
diploma in metro technology (PGDMT) the diploma course. permitted to pick up equity stakes in
would teach students various subjects commercial ventures. Confirming the move,
specially connected to the operations (Source: Hindustan Times., an official in the Ministry for Science &
and technology of Metro train. IIT 15-06-2008) Technology said: “The move follows the Prime
Minister’s direction to encourage development
and commercialization of innovations.” The
government may also exempt researchers
working in publicly-funded research
organizations and universities from central
civil services (CCS) conduct rules, enabling
them to set up companies while continuing
in government service.
(Source: Economic Times –
19-05-2008)
N FITT Forum - July 2008 15IIT Delhi
News
Indian Professors Devise Way to Pack Away Empty
Shipping Containers
E
very day, millions of shipping containers. To recover the costs of
containers export goods from containers returning empty,
Asia to other parts of the shipping companies impose stiff
world. In the cycle of global trade, surcharges on full containers
these containers would be used to exported from industrialized nations.
bring imported goods back to their One consulting firm estimates that
Asian home ports. But, because of ocean carriers spend about $16
trade imbalances, many return billion annually just moving the
empty. Storing and moving empty empties to the next loading point.
cargo containers impose huge costs
and waste valuable space and The IIT professors say they have
energy. VOA Correspondent Steve accomplished their mission and
Herman reports from New Delhi handed the project back to the
that an Indian invention could investment banker who initially
eventually cut in half the total approached them.
volume of empty containers shipped. the same amount of containers in one
quarter the size of this plot.” “Now most of the work is with Mr.
In ports, on ships, rail cars and trucks they Bindra to try and commercialize it,” said
are ubiquitous - those reusable steel Bindra was not the first person with such Mukherjee. “But it’s there and over the years
rectangular boxes that carry the bulk of the an idea. Others had tried but failed to create there can be many more variants of this.
world’s international cargo. Every year nearly a replacement that would be as sturdy as We’re looking at something in which you
150 million of the standard sized containers the conventional container. But Bindra can load water. It will mostly be covered by
are on the move. But an imbalance of trade thought the brains at the mechanical the same sort of patents that we have so
has caused shippers a major headache. engineering department of the Indian Institute we have to look at it.”
Consumer goods made in Asia fill those of Technology might be able to devise a
containers headed for the Americas, Europe feasible design that would fold automatically. Bindra says the next step is getting a
and Africa but they return mostly empty. And He approached professors Anoop Chawla prototype certified by global agencies,
moving and storing those empties costs and his colleague, Sudipto Mukherjee. which have to approve the sea-worthiness
freight haulers and shipping companies tens of any container model.
of billions of dollars per year. That got “In our design what we managed to
investment banker Avinder Bindra thinking achieve is that there are very stringent “And once that is done then it’ll be fit
as he stared out of his office window specifications on how much load it has to to be used on the ships,” he said. “So
overlooking Hong Kong’s port a few years take and how much deformation it will that’s the status right now. And we’re
ago, noticing the stacks of containers allow,” said Mukherjee. “So the folding optimistic we will be able to achieve that
growing higher and higher. scheme that we have allows the container in about nine to 12 months time.”
to take that load which a normal non-folding
“I found out that it was a problem container would do.” Although the foldable container will cost
because a lot of the containers were coming ten to 15 percent more than a conventional
back empty,” said Bindra. “In fact some of Mukherjee adds that their design is one, shippers should be able to recoup the
them were being used to bring back scrap feasible because a simple folding additional cost within one or two sea
and wastepaper which were really very low mechanism - a hydraulic base station - journeys. It is predicted that within the next
volume just to generate some revenue. But operated by one or two unskilled workers 15 years, about 350 million container units
the bulk of them, almost 20, 23 percent can collapse containers horizontally and will be transported annually.
of the volume of container movement stack them in several minutes. Professor
globally is of empties.” Bindra, who now Chawla says, in retrospect, the design looks If a foldable variety is among those, the
lives in New Delhi, found a solution to the simple, but took three years to go from professors could end up with containers of
expensive quandary of how to handle all the drawing board to something viable. cash. The scholars have agreed to share the
those empty containers. intellectual property rights for the invention
“One often hears of cases when a product with the investment banker. The trio says
“As you can look around probably a lot is designed on the board and it never sees the feedback from the shipping industry has
of these containers which are lying around the light of the day, the light at the end of been enthusiastic. They plan to license the
are empty,” he said. “Now if you can just the tunnel,” he said. “So it was very nice to foldable containers to manufacturers in
imagine a picture where you can fold or see something working and we really hope China and other countries.
where you can keep four containers in the it takes off commercially also.”
space of one - in other words you have Source: By Steve Herman
four containers, imagine the land which is There is a significant monetary incentive New Delhi
being freed up. So you will be able to store for the shipping industry to minimize empty 29 May 2008; Voice of America
16 FITT Forum - July 2008 NYou can also read
