S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Madras researchers have developed a solar-powered Unmanned Autonomous Survey Craft for Indian Ports and Inland Waterways.
The IIT Madras researchers who developed this autonomous survey craft are from National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) which is located at IIT Madras.
The IIT Madras researchers are already in the process of commercializing this technology with the help of Ministry of Shipping of Government of India and IIT Madras Incubation Cell.
Speaking about the impact of developing this autonomous survey craft by IIT Madras researchers, Professor K. Murali, professor-in-charge, NTCPWC said this is a significant leap towards indigenization of the Indian maritime sector, which is currently dominated by foreign technology.
IIT Madras researchers develop great survey craft
‘The craft developed by IIT Madras researchers is capable of delivering precise and accurate depth measurements even in very shallow waters.’
This autonomous survey craft by IIT Madras researchers will help to meet the increasing demands for volume and efficiency as ships are becoming larger, with maximum loading to ensure most efficient operations, said Professor K. Murali.
Professor Murali who is also the part of the IIT Madras researchers team who developed the craft further said the craft can undertake autonomous hydrography surveys at different times of the day to identify the navigable paths that can be used for operational window and navigational guidance.
It has been developed to carry out survey operations in areas such as ports, harbours, waterways, dams, lakes, lagoons and other shallow water zones.
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It can be operated in manual mode by a remote-control setup or as a fully autonomous vehicle, he said.
Professor Murali is also the head of Ocean Engineering department at IIT Madras.
The craft developed by IIT Madras researchers is fully solar powerd and can endure five to several more hours depending on user requirements.
The craft developed by IIT Madras researchers can undertake autonomous hydrographic and oceanographic surveys and provide real-time data transmission over long distance.
The system brought out by IIT Madras researchers could be equipped with an echo sounder, GPS System and broadband communication technology capable of delivering precise depth measurements.
In addition to echo sounder and GPS system, it is possible to add additional oceanographic payloads (current and velocity measurements), 360-degree Camera, LiDAR for seamless topography and bathymetry measurements to this craft made by IIT Madras researchers.
The craft brought out by IIT Madras researchers had a successful field-test recently off the Chennai Coast at Kamarajar Port.
Further field trials for this craft brought out by IIT Madras researchers under harsher environments have been scheduled at Shyama Prasad Mookerjee (SMP) Port in Kolkata.
Team of IIT Madras researchers who developed this craft are Prof Murali, Mr. D. Leo and D. Kumaran Raju who are principal scientists at NTCPWC.
The survey craft developed by IIT Madras researchers is a part of research funding provided to NTCPWC by Ministry of Shipping of Government of India.
In addition, the craft developed by IIT Madras researchers can help some challenges that are being frequently encountered by the Port Administrators in India including:
$ Surveys slow down the busy heavy traffic and even causing accidents
$ Vessels to carry out the survey in the shallow area
$ The high cost for periodical channel surveys
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) was established in 1959 by the Government of India as an ‘Institute of National Importance.’
The activities of the Institute in various fields of Science and Technology are carried out in 16 academic departments and several advanced interdisciplinary research academic centres.
The Institute offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to B.Tech., M.Sc., M.B.A., M.Tech., M.S., and Ph.D., degrees in a variety of specialisations.
IITM is a residential institute with more than 580 faculty and 9,500 students. Students from 18 countries are enrolled here.
IITM fosters an active entrepreneurial culture with strong curricular support and through the IITM Incubation Cell.
IITM has been ranked No.1 in the ‘Overall’ Category for the second consecutive year in India Ranking 2020 released by National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The Institute has also been ranked No.1 in the ‘Engineering Institutions’ category in the same Rankings for five consecutive years – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
It was also adjudged as the ‘Top innovative Institution’ in the country in Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) in 2019 and 2020.
ARIIA Ranking was launched by the Innovation Cell of Ministry of Education.