Smart sensors developed in BVB to enter global market

With the KLE Technological University (KLETU) taking its initiative of promoting entrepreneurship through incubation to the next level, three high-tech sensors for manufacturing industries have been developed on the campus, through industry-academia partnership.

This time, smart sensors developed here are not just prototypes or devices to be marketed at the local-level, but they would compete in the global market, offering continuous machine parameters monitoring system for the manufacturing industries. A year after Vegam.io, a joint venture between Singapore-based Vegam Solutions Pte and KLETU, supported by the Indian Electronics Semiconductor Association (IESA), was started at the KLETU, three 'vSense' devices (industrial IOT platforms) have been developed and are being piloted, with the involvement of both the company, and students and faculty of the varsity.

"We joined hands with Vegam, with an aim to develop world-class technology products on the campus itself. Two faculty have been deputed for the this work full-time, while 14 engineering students of E&C and CS branches were involved in developing sensors. It helped both our faculty and students to learn latest technology and product development," said KLETU Vice-Chancellor Ashok Shettar.

Through the KLETU's Centre for Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CTIE), 41 startups are incubated here. But, for the first time, the varsity directly partnered with a company to allow high-end technology product research & development on the campus, with the involvement of faculty and students. Revenue and intellectual properties would be shared by all the partners, Dr Shettar noted, while speaking to media persons here on Wednesday.

IOT sensors

Vegam Solutions CEO Subramanyam Kashibhat stated that the sensors developed here are being tested on a pilot basis in a few factories in Europe, China, and India, while Rs 50 lakh worth sensors have already been pre-booked by leading manufacturers.

Valve state sensor to find out valve mismatch, vibration and temperature sensor which monitors the health of motors, and sensor for assembly line counter to get accurate data of production have been developed. Instead of selling just sensors, we offer the service of monitoring the machines, valves, or assembly line using the wireless sensors which give real-time data and alerts through a server in Germany, he explained.

'For local industries'

"We are also working with agro-processing plants and sugar factories in the region, to find out a solution to prevent machine failures, using IOT devices including smart sensors," Mr Kashibhat added.

Sankalp Semiconductor chief Vivek Pawar noted that KLETU is the first campus selected for piloting the IESA's National ESDM Technology Research Academy (NETRA) programme, while the State Government's KBITS has also provided Rs four crore for VLSI incubation.

When students here develop knowledge and skills in most recent technology, by working with such projects, industries would also not hesitate to expand their activities to Tier 2 cities, due to availability of talent pool, Mr Pawar added.