In a fine example showcasing what industry-academia partnership can achieve, the annual expo at the Centre for Electronics Design and Technology (CEDT), IISc, saw some innovative applications of technology.
   On display were products developed by the MTech students of the department as part of the course. Most of these were sponsored by companies like Wipro, Philips, BEL, MROTEK, Esqube Communications, Allgo, Triphase Technologies, etc. "This is a unique thing about our course. Nowhere in the world has this kind of cost-effective programme been achieved," said Dr Santanu Mahapatra, CEDT.

Low cost phone
   For instance, the low cost IP phone developed by Kamlesh and Prasad using open source and offering basic functionalism costs around $35 compared to the $70 that most sets cost. Another exhibit, the TRAMP (travelling media player) is like a iPod that can download video too, wirelessly.
   The exhibits are exactly as the final products will look like.
   The passenger information system tracks vehicles and displays announcements to passengers while allowing enquiry through the Net or sms. The location based services from Nehal and Smitha uses a Wifi network of access points and position algorithm to give required data. Useful in hospitals and museums where based on your position, a hand-held device can guide you or give details, this one was sponsored by Wipro.
   The CESoP processor can be of use in apartments to provide multiple services without having too many wires. It can help the host exchange to optimize on a single copper wire or optical fibre and provide up to 32 channels when scaled up.
   A low cost biomedical imaging system makes it possible for trained people to stream multiple images of the eye to the PC by doing away with display system. Much light compared to conventional systems, this one would not require the doctors to do it.
   A multipower port for hybrid power supply developed by Anand and Jawaharji helps send energy generated at captive renewable energy sources to the main grid instead of storing. Another unit on quality power removes the noise factor and presents a perfect sine wave as output. This could be useful during shutdowns when UPS takes over.
   Arulan had worked on a theoretical model that increased battery life for mobiles, especially for multimedia operations. He looked at various number systems for this.
   In the words of Ramachandra Budihal, solution architect for embedded systems, Wipro, such collaborations help industry save up on its bandwidth of resources besides encouraging students. "We are looking at proof of concept, not for engineering finesse. We can always value-add to the functionality. But we do learn lots from the academia and are able to use the experience to sell services."
   The annual expo sees an advisory committee comprising industry members giving feedback to the students and faculty. CEDT has many labs set up by companies which sponsor part of the course work of the students. Like Motorala’s lab that deals with embedded systems.
   The department has a distinct segregation of the sciences and engineering division with its research programme dealing with post graduation and doctorates while the degree section takes care of MTech, ME programmes.
   As Chairman CEDT, H S Jamadagni observed, all the projects were excellent, prompting the authorities to do away with the best student award this year.

Pretty woman
   Also on display was the Robo-Puppet, an ongoing project at the CEDT. A patented concept, this basically aims to bring novelty into the art of puppetry, explained Dr Dinesh, the moving hand behind the puppet.
   "We thought of reviving puppetry using technology. This work started seven years ago allows many advantages. For instance, it can be simultaneously done at many places. We just need to send the motion files where needed," he said while explaining the need for reinventing.
   The show can be dubbed in any language, it is possible for the puppeteer to watch the dolls and the audience and there is chance for constant improvising. "Dance sequences involving many dolls can be done easily. All we need is to program and then copy paste it. We also have many more degrees of movement here. Each robot can handle more than five dolls," said Dinesh who thinks this could be a good show piece for festivals like the Hampi festival. As it makes use of a USB control, it can be plugged in anywhere.
   Students Vijaykumar and Yeshwanth explained how using joysticks it was possible to program the puppet in an hour.  Visitors were treated to a dance performance as the puppet jiggled to the tunes of Pretty Woman from Kal ho na ho!