PES varsity students to launch second microsatellite on Feb 28

Students at PES University are preparing to launch their second microsatellite (RSAT) on February 28 with support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The students launched their first satellite in 2016. Around eight students and seven faculty members were involved in designing the RSAT. The programme was headed by senior faculty member Dr Sambashiva Rao.

Configured and developed at PES University, the RSAT would carry the satellite-based automatic identification system (SB-AIS) to monitor ships on high seas and provide vital information about ship movement.

Students and faculty involved in the RSAT programme said it would be launched into about 500 km polar sun-synchronous orbit.

RSAT is a 3-axis stabilised agile microsatellite weighing about 15 kg and measuring 300mmx300mmx300mm in size with deployable solar panels, they added.

The satellite payload receives AIS signals transmitted by ships in VHF band, which it stores onboard, processes and transmits the ship’s information to the ground station in X-band through a high gain phased array antenna during ground station visibility period, the team members explained.

The satellite with S-based omni antenna system supports tracking, telemetering and commanding. Onboard control system with reaction wheels and magnetic torquers controls the satellite for sun tracking during the sun-lit period to generate maximum power and also tracks ground station for data transfer during ground station visibility period, they added.

PES University Chancellor Prof M R Doreswamy told a press conferred on Wednesday: “Based on the successful completion of the project carried out for the NRB, PES University proposes to develop SB-AIS technology to create opportunity for students to gain practical experience in space technology and help the country to be on a par with other nations in SB-AIS applications.”

Kannada search engine

A team of research associates at the varsity is developing a Kannada search engine. PES University has provided Rs 10 lakh for the project to develop a search engine that would understand the context of the Kannada text.

"We also intend to develop a huge data set of Kannada text which can help all other natural language processing related to projects,” the team said.

Rs 52L salary offer

Six students at PES University have received a package of Rs 52 lakh per annum from a US-based company during the campus placement, the highest in the varsity’s history.