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NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: Bengaluru schools shine, bag spots in Top 10 in national rankings

The survey rates and ranks the country’s Top 4,000 schools in four main and 23 sub-categories.

Bengaluru schools have once again made a mark by securing several spots in countrywide ranking of schools surveyed by EducationWorld in association with Bengaluru-based AZ Research Partners Pvt Ltd. The annual report — Education World India School Rankings (EWISR) 2024-25 — was released Monday.

The Rashtriya Military School, Bengaluru, secured the first spot in the country under the category of government boarding schools, while the Air Force School, Hebbal, was awarded the fifth spot under the central government day school category. Brindavan Education Centre, Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism (ASHA) and Vidyaniketan Academy, Centre for Learning Challenges, are featured in the best special needs schools in the country.

The survey rates and ranks the country’s Top 4,000 schools in four main and 23 sub-categories. This year, a sample database of 8,700 respondents, including 5,150 parents and 3,550 education professionals across 34 cities in the country, were surveyed.

Schools were surveyed on 14 parameters of educational excellence, such as academic reputation, competence of faculty members, individual attention to students, leadership quality, curriculum and pedagogy (hybrid learning readiness), co-curricular education, sports and more.

“Schools are grouped in discrete categories to eliminate apples and oranges type comparisons. Another special feature of the annual EWISR is that it is a national survey based on field interviews with over 8,700 knowledgeable respondents, not on the opinions of a handful of selected jurors,” said DilipThakore, founder-editor of EducationWorld.

In the Vintage Legacy Co-Ed Day Schools category, St Joseph’s Boys High School stood at number two and Bishop Cotton Girls School secured the sixth rank. Smt Kamalabai Educational Institution achieved the seventh rank in the co-ed category.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA : HEALTH &MEDICINE: Dr Royson D’Souza secures gold medal in national colorectal surgery fellowship exam

Dr Royson D’Souza has been awarded a gold medal after securing first place in the national-level fellowship exam conducted by the Association of Colon and Rectal Surgeons of India (ACRSI). The award was presented during this year’s ACRSI annual conference held in Chennai.

Dr Royson D’Souza completed his fellowship in Colorectal Surgery from Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Colorectal surgery, a super speciality dealing with disorders of the large intestine and rectum, covers a range of conditions including colorectal cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases, pelvic floor disorders, and proctology ailments such as haemorrhoids, fistulas, and fissures.

Currently, there are no super speciality courses in colorectal surgery in India, with fellowships available at only a few institutions.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: ONLINE EUCATION : Unsung Heroes: Meet Shrinidhi from Dakshina Kannada who wants to take affordable online learning to remote cities, war-torn regions

Shrinidhi R S is now CEO of Cherri Learn, an impact-driven ed-tech company that delivers quality grass-root level education in ‘tier 3’ and ‘tier 4’ villages in English along with their regional language through interactive learning aid.

Nestled in the serene landscape of Dakshina Kannada, Kaladka is more than just a charming town known for its rich and aromatic tea. While its signature brews have won the hearts of many, the town also holds the pride of producing its first and youngest entrepreneur to own a LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Shrinidhi R S, 22, is now the CEO and founder of Cherri Learn, an impact-driven ed-tech company that delivers quality grass-root level education in ‘tier 3’ and ‘tier 4’ villages in English along with their regional language through interactive learning aid at a highly affordable price.

The core mission of the platform is to make quality education accessible to children in underserved areas of India and to deliver affordable education to 10 million students by 2025. Shrinidhi grew up in a humble family background. His father was into the taxi business while his mother was a tailor. During his early days, Shrinidhi mostly spent time exploring the internet and had a penchant for learning to build websites and software applications.

By the age of 16, just when he finished his 10th grade, Shrinidhi was an intermediate developer. He took up freelance assignments and developed websites, making a meager amount of money. However, when this transitioned into a serious business, he set up the first software development LLP company called Abstract Technologies when he was only 18. “I had the distinguished achievement of opening the first LLP in my region (Kaladka),” says Shrinidhi.

But over time, he didn’t find that to be a lucrative business model, which prompted him to launch one-of-its-kind agri-tech apps called MyMPCS (Milk Producers Collectors Society), that helped streamline the business of dairy farmers. With over 10,000 downloads, dairy farmers mostly from Dakshina Kannada district, signed up on the app that helped them streamline livestock and inventory management.

“We helped the farmers move from traditional way-using pen and paper to digitised version of channelising their dairy produce,” explains Shrinidhi who is currently pursuing distance learning in MBA.

But just when Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Shrinidhi forayed into a transformative space and joined the digital learning bandwagon. With many students hinging on online education and with leading ed-tech platforms jumping right into the opportunity, Shrinidhi identified the scope for an inclusive and affordable online learning service. This led to the birth of Cherri Learn, which focused primarily on delivering quality education to students from deeper pockets of India.

“Initially, I started off by uploading videos on my own. I used to identify certain concepts in the subjects of mathematics and science and upload them on YouTube. However, the lack of access to online learning to all students irrespective of socio-economic background and with the expensive services of such online learning platforms, I felt a major section of students were kept out of the loop. This mostly included students from Kannada medium schools. This problem is what triggered the idea of Cherri Learn,” says Shrinidhi.

The platform offers educational content for children in grades 1 to 5, designed through animation to engage students in a visually compelling learning model. What sets it apart is its availability in regional languages, including Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam. Students can avail themselves of education content in regional languages for Rs 365 a year (Rs 1/day) and can access English language content for Rs 1,095/year (Rs 3/day).

“One of the major challenges was to market the product among students in the remote areas. During the pandemic we used digital marketing to popularize the product. However, once the pandemic was over, we conducted extensive outreach programmes and demonstrations on how to use the app and how the platform could supplement traditional schooling. Currently we have reached more than 1,200 remote cities in India and have recorded over 80,000 downloads,” said Shrinidhi who also collaborates with NGO partners and corporates to expand the service as part of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Shrinidhi also said that the average screen time of the students on the app was around 1 hour and 10 minutes ,which contributed significantly to the learning curve of the students. “Going ahead we would like to make our product global and reach out to students in other countries including Africa, Middle East and some war-torn countries. By the next academic year, with the help of international NGOs we are focusing on delivering educational content in Nigeria, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Since we are not specialized in the curriculum of other countries, we will initially be targeting pre-primary and primary students with basic numeric and alphabetical literacy,” says Shrinidhi.

Shrinidhi’s ed-tech company in 2023 emerged as the winner of Elevate Karnataka and secured an equity-free grant of Rs 35 lakh from the Government of Karnataka. Besides, Shrinidhi has also raised a seed round of angel funds amounting to Rs 1.5 crore.

Asked what keeps him going, Shrinidhi says, “Entrepreneurship was my interest from day one. I believe in the principle of profit with purpose. The sheer excitement in social entrepreneurship is what keeps me going.”

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: AIR : India’s First Radio Station, the Akashvani Mysore Station is 90

Akashvani Mysore Station is celebrating its 90th anniversary, turning a new page in its several decades long history, continuing to serve a stream of connoisseurs, who still long to hear the mellifluous voice broadcast on the radio (Air Mysuru 100.6 FM).

For the uninformed, it was Akashvani Mysore Station that gave the name ‘Akashvani’ to All India Radio (AIR), the broadcasting facility of the country. Even amid the changing scenario, marked by key challenges with the advent of commercialisation, globalisation and multimedia, Akashvani has etched a firm place in the heart of the listeners.

With a variety of programmes entertaining the young and old alike, not ignoring its commitment to the society, Akashvani has been catering to the legion of listeners, moving ahead with a confidence of remaining the popular broadcasting media.

Genesis of Radio Station

To trace its origin, M.V. Gopalaswamy, a Professor of Psychology in Maharaja’s College here, started the Radio Station at his home in Yadavagiri, in the city on Sept. 10, 1935. Notably, it was the country’s first Radio Station, which began with the airing of Rashtrakavi Kuvempu’s poetry. A vocal concert by renowned composer Mysore Vasudevacharya, a direct disciple of Saint Thyagaraja, was the first music programme to be broadcast on this Radio Station.

The Radio Station was later shifted to the present building of Mysore Medical College & Research Institute (MMC&RI) on Irwin Road in the city. It was later handed over to Mysore Municipality (which later became Mysuru City Corporation) and was subsequently managed by the princely Mysore State headed by the Maharaja.

Wave of novelty

In the later years, N. Kasturi, as the first Assistant Director of the Station, took the Station to new heights, making it a talk of the town with its innovative programmes. The Central Government took over Akashvani in the later years and Prof. B.N. Murthy, as the Station Head, gave a touch of creativity, while his successor Dr. M.M. Natesh infused novelty to the events.

After the formation of Karnataka State, the Radio Station was shifted to Bengaluru on Nov. 2, 1955, before relocating to Mysuru on Nov. 14, 1974.

Several programmes aired on Akashvani Mysuru, were the result of successful experiments and have bagged several national awards. It has succeeded in maintaining its own distinct quality, amid the growing influence of mass media, with the motto Bahujana Hitaaya, Bahujana Sukhaya. Be it literature, music, plays, education, health, cinema, sports, agriculture and several other programmes, Akashvani has been endearing the listeners.

Programme list

The programmes like Coffee Thindi, Belli Beragu, Veeneya Bedagu Nadada Sobagu, Arivina Shikhara, Laya Sambhrama, Haadu Helida Kathe, Thorana Horana, Kannada Bharati, Doctor Samaya, Mahila Ranga, Yuva Ranga, Bala Jagat, Rasaprashne, Ranga Banuli, Chilipili, Chatpat Churumuri, Udyoga Varthe, Krishi Ranga, Mahila Ranga, Kelugara Korike – Nimma Mechchina Chitrageethegalu, Natakagalu, Chalanachitra Dhwani Vahini, Mishra Madhurya, Game Show, Katheyallide Uththara, Kelugarondige Anisike, Kaadina Rochaka Kathegalu, Sangeetha Sambhrama, Trin Trin Cycle Savari, Maathina Lahari, Nammoora Hesaru, Kadambari Vichara, Heegide Nam Jodi, Haadiyalli Kanda Mukha, Keli Giligale, Makkala Mantapa, Nenapinangala Sandhya Raga, Vaidyarondige Bheti (health programme), direct Phone-in and Varthegalu (news), command dedicated listeners, along with cricket and Dasara commentaries.

Besides, by producing quality programmes, Akashvani is striving for the welfare of the society too.

A household brand

Like the eponymous brands of Mysore like Mysore Dasara, Mysore Mallige, Mysore Sandalwood, Mysore Pak and Mysore Silk, Mysore Akashvani is also a household brand. It has been functioning out from the heritage building in Yadavagiri on KRS Road in the city, broadcasting a variety of non-stop programmes from 5.55 am to 11 pm.

Meaningful 90^th anniversary celebrations

The 90th anniversary of Akashvani Mysore Station was meaningfully celebrated on Sept. 10, with Pavithra, the great granddaughter of Akashvani Founder M.V. Gopalaswamy and Rajaram, the grandson of N. Kasturi, planting the sapling to mark the milestone in the history of the Radio Station, at its premises in Yadavagiri.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Director of Akashvani Mysore, S.S. Umesh, recalled the history of the Station, saying that it was on Sept. 10, 1935 that the Station made its start and was later managed by Mysore Kingdom and was subsequently taken over by the Central Government. The Station has provided a platform for various litterateurs including Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, by airing a series of programmes. The programmes have still retained their popularity.

Assistant Director Abdul Rasheed, T.B. Vidyashankar, Programme Executive B. Shanthakumar and others were present.

As part of 90th anniversary, day-long special programmes were aired on Akashvani Mysore.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: SPORTS / CHESS: Atharv Venkatesh and Leah R Joseph are the champions of Karnataka State Under-11 Open and Girls 2024

Atharv Venkatesh (Bengaluru Urban) and Eshwar Veerappan Aiyappan (Mysore) scored 7.5/9 each at Karnataka State Under-11 Open Rating Championship 2024.

Atharv won the tournament on tie-breaks, Eshwar secured second place. Eight players scored 7/9. Out of them, top seed, Samaksh Ashok was adjudged third. In the Girls event, Leah R Joseph scored sole 7.5/9 to become the champion. Five players scored 7/9. Indusheetala N (Bengaluru Urban) and Anvita Sathi (Uttara Kannada) secured second and third place according to tie-breaks. The total combined prize fund of the tournament was ₹100000. The top three prizes were ₹12000, ₹8000 and ₹6000 along with a trophy each respectively. The three-day nine-round rating tournament was organized by Giristuti Checkmate School of Chess Foundation from 30th August to 1st September Gujarat Bhavan in Belgaum, Karnataka. Photo: Praveena N

Bengaluru Urban players clinch the championships

Atharv Venkatesh, a student of Legacy School, Bangalore, scored 7.5/9 to win Karnataka State Under-11 Open. He was fourth seeded and suffered only one loss against Vyan Banchor in Round 3. Atharv won the tournament with better tiebreaks.

Leah R Joseph, a student of St. Pauls English School, Bangalore scored 7.5/9 and finished a half point ahead. She was fifth seeded and lost only one game against Aarna Jain in Round 5. This is Leah’s second State title. Last year she won Karnataka State Under-9 Girls Championship 2023.

Open Top 3 (L to R): 3rd Samaksh Ashok 7/9, 1st Atharv Venkatesh 7.5/9 and 2nd Eshwar Veerappan Aiyappan 7.5/9 | Photo: Praveena N

Eshwar Aiyappan from Amrita Vidyalayam, Mysore scored 7.5/9 and secured second place. He was seeded eleventh and suffered only one loss against Indrajit Majumdar. Eshwar drew with the eventual champion, Atharv in the final round. Indusheetala Natarajan from National Hill View Public School, Unit 2 Bangalore scored 7/9 and finished second. She was seeded sixth and her only loss was against Aadya Gowda. Indusheetala drew with the eventual champion in the Girls, Leah in the final round.

Girls Top 3 (L to R): 3rd Anvita Sathi 7/9, 1st Leah R Joseph 7.5/9 and 2nd Indusheetala 7/9 | Photo: Praveena N

A total of 153 players in the Open and 91 in the Girls took part from various districts of Karnataka. The nine-round Swiss league Rating tournament took place from 30th August to 1st September 2024 at Gujarat Bhavan in Belgaum, Karnataka.

It was organized by Giristuti Checkmate School of Chess Foundation, Belgaum.

The time control was 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

source/content: chessbase.in / Praveena N (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: SPACE: ‘Bangalore Space Expo 2024 (BSE 2024)’ Concludes on a High Note – September 18-20, 2024

It was three days of treat for the afficiandos of space technology as the eighth edition of three-day Bangalore Space Expo 2024 (BSE 2024) was held from September 18 to September 20.

What is of significance is that with the push from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has privatised space launches and is targeting a fivefold increase in its share of the global launch market, which some expect to be worth $47.3 billion by 2032. This increased private sector participation would help to generate employment, enable modern technology absorption and make the sector self-reliant. It is expected to integrate Indian companies into global value chains. With this, companies will be able to set-up their manufacturing facilities within the country duly encouraging ‘Make In India (MII)’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives of the Government.

In this background, the BSX 2024 which was held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) gave visitors an opportunity to see cutting-edge innovations, exciting space technologies and future of India’s space.

Nothing could be more apt than what Dr S. Somanath, Secretary of Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission said, “Times have changed. We are capable of building the best equipment. The best devices and the best rockets in India.”

With over 100,000 visitors attending the three-day BSX 2024, the event saw participation by over 250 delegates, space companies from over 250 and pavilions of over ten countries, shows the interest in space technology and increased private funding, technological advancements, and public sector interest. There’s a renewed push to explore beyond. Declining launch costs and rising public interest are propelling this industry to new heights, offering a galaxy of opportunities for investors.

India’s space sector has seen tremendous growth over the past decade. India’s advances in space programs have been highly remarkable, with vigorous and determined efforts by ISRO. Taking the vision of the Government of India in enhancing private sector participation in the space sector, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has been organising the Bengaluru Space Expo 2024 (BSX), a Biennial International Exhibition and Conference since 2008.

From the humble beginnings of transporting rocket parts on bullock carts to the proud achievement of launching a record number of satellites in a single mission, India has proven itself as a trailblazer in space exploration. Until recently, India’s space sector could broadly but in no way exclusively be divided into two major domains: commercial and research. The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), which made India the fourth nation to reach Mars, and the Chandrayan-3 Mission to soft launch on the south pole of the lunar surface, are purely research initiatives for space exploration. On the other hand, launching foreign satellites for communication, navigation, and resource survey/management are commercial space activities.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), formed on August 15, 1969, is the country’s official space agency. While pursuing space science research and planetary exploration, ISRO has led and defined the nation’s space industry and economy with 124 spacecraft missions, 432 foreign satellite launches, 98 launch missions, and much more. The Bengaluru-headquartered organisation is gearing up for Gaganyaan, India’s first manned mission to space. Several Non-Government Entities (NGEs) aid ISRO as vendors and/or suppliers.

A report by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey estimates the size of the global space industry to be $630 Billion in 2023. It is expected to grow 9% per annum and reach $1.8 Trillion by 2035. The private sector plays a defining role in driving innovation and access through large-scale investments, while non-space private sector partnerships with space players continue to expand.

In a landmark effort to engage and promote private entities in the space sector, the Government launched the Indian Space Policy 2023. There are 189 DPIIT-recognised space technology startups in India, and the space startups have garnered investment worth $124.7 Million during March-December 2023. The policy enables NGEs to engage end-to-end in all domains of the space sector, making startups a lucrative investment option for investors. Alphabet Inc. became one of the first to capitalise on the lucrative potential with an investment of $36 Million in a Bengaluru-based satellite imaging startup called Pixxel. As the space sector flourishes with emerging startups, established NGEs like Dhruva Space, SatSure, Skyroot, and more are also expanding the remit of their operations and research under the policy.

India’s space economy, valued at $8.4 Billion in 2023, currently accounts for 2-3% of the global space economy. But it is estimated to grow to $44 Billion by 2033. The private sector can play a critical role in realising this and BSX 2024 provided the appropriate platform to boost India’s space development.

To facilitate participation from the private sector, the Department of Space (DoS) established the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). Though funded by the DoS, IN-SPACe is an autonomous, single-window, nodal agency for all space sector activities of NGEs. It serves as an authorisation and clearance agency for space launches, provides infrastructure support for launch pads, monitors and facilitates the procurement and trade of satellites, enables the use of DoS facilities, and more. IN-SPACe also offers technical expertise and assistance to NGEs and handholds them through the process by sharing technologies, best practices, and products.

Meanwhile, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), serving as the commercial arm of ISRO under DoS, helps NGEs commercialise their space technologies and platforms. It facilitates manufacturing, leasing, procuring, and trading space components, technologies, and other assets for global markets. It also facilitates space services offered by ISRO and now private companies and consortiums to international and global agencies.

In a more recent and direct reform, an amendment to the FDI policy allows up to 100% foreign direct investment in manufacturing and procuring satellite systems. The satellite sub-sector of the space industry has been distinguished into three different segments with defined foreign investment ceilings. Launch vehicles and their associated products/services can have up to 49% FDI. Activities like operation, data products, and ground and user segments can receive up to 74% FDI. And up to a 100% FDI for the manufacture of satellite components, sub-systems, and ground and user segments of the same.

India’s space sector has always promoted domestic manufacturing and innovation. These principles have held the nation’s space economy in good stead, with the NSIL reporting an annual turnover of INR 28.42 Crore in FY 22-23 alone. The space economy is on a sharp upward trajectory with the influx of space-tech startups and other NGEs. The IN-SPACe has already signed 51 MoUs with NGEs to actualise and support the manufacture of launch vehicles and satellites. Other notable successes include the commercial launches of LVM3 & PSLV and the successful launch of Aditya-L1 aboard PSLV C57 to observe the Sun, cementing India’s place in the global space industry for research and commerce.

The space industry has a crucial role in implementing innovative solutions in several sectors, such as telecommunication, healthcare, agriculture, defence, and others. India’s space sector is at a pivotal juncture. With a rich history of innovation — even at a cost less than Hollywood movies — a booming private sector and a supportive regulatory environment, the nation is poised for a significant leap forward.

By harnessing the collective potential of ISRO, NSIL, IN-SPACe, and its thriving startup ecosystem, India can not only become a major player in the global space economy but also unlock transformative applications for its citizens and the world. The final frontier beckons and India appears well-equipped to answer its call. The space startup ecosystem has flourished, with 189 startups in 2023, receiving $124.7 million in funding. With favorable policy changes, including the Space Policy 2023 and upcoming legislation, India is poised to emerge as a global leader in the space sector, offering new avenues for investments and technological advancements.

As a leader in the space technology domain, India understands the importance of staying at the forefront of innovation and collaboration. The Bengaluru Space Expo 2024 served as a premier platform for industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to come together, exchange ideas, and explore the latest advancements in space technology.

source/content: raksha-anirveda.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: SPACE INNOVATION: Bengaluru Start-up Bellatrix Aerospace Unveils Groundbreaking Low Earth Orbit Satellite

Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based start-up, has unveiled an ultra low earth orbit satellite capable of operating at 200 km altitude, thanks to its in-house developed propulsion systems.

This breakthrough aims to significantly enhance satellite performance and could revolutionize satellite applications.

A Bengaluru-based space-sector start-up has set a new milestone by unveiling an ultra low earth orbit satellite capable of operating at an altitude of 200 km. This remarkable feat was achieved through advanced propulsion systems developed in-house.

The satellite, known as Project 200, was showcased by Bellatrix Aerospace. It was officially unveiled by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) Chairman Pawan Kumar Goenka.

Traditionally, Low Earth Orbit satellites are deployed at altitudes around 450 km to avoid atmospheric drag. Placing satellites in lower orbits typically results in them falling back to Earth more quickly. However, Bellatrix Aerospace’s co-founder and CEO, Rohan Ganapathy, stated that their cutting-edge propulsion technology enables satellites to maintain 200 km orbits for years, rather than deorbiting in a few days.

Ganapathy highlighted that operating at 200 km significantly boosts satellite performance, improving communication latency and image resolution while reducing costs compared to 450 km altitude satellites. This innovation promises to be a game changer, delivering new capabilities previously unachievable by satellites, according to Bellatrix’s co-founder and COO, Yashas Karanam.

Bellatrix Aerospace has also pioneered the use of water-fueled plasma thrusters and high-performing green propulsion alternatives, marking a pivotal step towards reimagining future space operations.

(With inputs from agencies.)

source/content: devidiscourse.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: AVIATION/ DEFENCE : Bengaluru company Flying Wedge unveils indigenous bomber UAV

The Bengaluru-based company said the UAV would address India’s need for an advanced unmanned combat aircraft and boost efforts toward self-reliance in a segment critical to modern warfare.

Defence and aerospace company Flying Wedge on Friday unveiled its bomber UAV – FWD-200B – which it said would advance India’s unmanned air combat prowess with cost-efficiency and indigenous capabilities.

The Bengaluru-based company said the UAV would address India’s need for an advanced unmanned combat aircraft and boost efforts toward self-reliance in a segment critical to modern warfare. Flying Wedge had, in 2023, secured a DGCA type certification for its indigenous UAV technology.

FWD-200B is a MALE (medium altitude, long endurance) UAV with a fuel capacity of 100 kg. It comes with optical surveillance payloads and is integrated with missile-like weapons for precision air strikes. The UAV has a maximum speed of 370 kmph (200 knots), an endurance capacity of 12 to 20 hours, and a ground control station range of 200 km. At six metres long, with an eight-metre wingspan, the aircraft can carry a maximum take-off weight of 498 kg and has an operational altitude of 9,000 ft above mean sea level.

After unveiling a full-scale model of the UAV, Suhas Tejaskanda, founder of Flying Wedge, said plans were on to fly the aircraft during May. The company is engaging with the Army Design Bureau (ADB) – which leads the Indian Army’s Make in India initiative – to pursue possibilities of induction into the Armed Forces.

Flying Wedge, through the ADB, is taking the certification process forward with the Indian Army. The ADB’s Regional Technology Node is set to coordinate these efforts based on an evaluation of the aircraft across parameters.

“By June, we’ll be observing the flight dynamics and the behaviour of the aircraft and probably, over the next three months, we should be able to get the aircraft to CEMILAC (Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification),” Tejaskanda told reporters.

Tejaskanda said the company was also aiming to sell the aircraft to countries in Africa and South-East Asia that are, at present, buying highly-priced UAVs like the Predators from the US. He said the cost involved in the production of an FWD-200B was about Rs 25 crore.

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPACE TECHNOLOGY: Indian space startup Pixxel bags NASA contract to support Earth science research

Indian space startup Pixxel has bagged a NASA contract to support Earth science research using the hyperspectral technology.

The Bengaluru-based company has become part of NASA’s $476-million commercial smallsat data acquisition programme — a first for an Indian startup after the space sector was opened to private companies in 2020.

Co-founder and CEO Awais Ahmed called the award a “monumental achievement for Pixxel”.

He said the contract, valid till November 2028, “validates that hyperspectral imaging will be integral to the future of space-based Earth observation and enable us to truly build a health monitor for the planet”.

As per the contract, Pixxel will provide NASA and its US government and academic partners with hyperspectral Earth observation data. This will help empower the administration’s Earth science research and application activities.

Pixxel hyperspectral can capture data across hundreds of narrow wavelengths. Its datasets can also unravel granular insights on climate change, agriculture, biodiversity, and resource management, among others.

Building on this momentum, Pixxel is also making significant strides toward launching six satellites shortly. Fireflies — its 5-metre resolution hyperspectral satellites — will be the highest-resolution hyperspectral satellites ever launched.

These satellites will capture data across over 250 spectral bands, offering more comprehensive coverage with a 40 km swath width and a 24-hour revisit frequency anywhere on the planet.

In addition, Pixxel also plans to expand its constellation to 24 satellites to make hyperspectral data commercially. This will make it more broadly available and accessible to stakeholders across industries and governments.

Pixxel has a constellation of the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral imaging satellites that are designed for 24-hour revisits anywhere on Earth.

The satellites can help detect, monitor, and predict critical global phenomena across agriculture, oil and gas, mining, environment, and other sectors in up to 50 times richer detail.

Pixxel has also launched its in-house Earth Observation Studio, Aurora, to make satellite imagery analysis easily accessible.

The company has also raised over $70 million from Google, Lightspeed, Radical Ventures, Relativity’s Jordan Noone, Seraphim Capital, Ryan Johnson, Blume Ventures, Sparta LLC, Accenture, and others.

source/content: ianslive.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: I.T. BREAKTHROUGH: IISc scientists achieve breakthrough in AI hardware

They were also able to do this at a fraction of the time and energy that traditional computers would need.

Loads of computing power is needed to train Language Models (LLMs) which are an integral part of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT, Midjourney and DALL-E are all trained on LLMs. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a brain-inspired analogue computing platform capable of storing and processing data in an astonishing 16,500 conductance states within a molecular film. This breakthrough can bring complex AI tasks to personal devices.

Generally in digital computers data storage and processing are limited to just two states. “Neuromorphic computing has had its fair share of unsolved challenges for over a decade. With this discovery, we have almost nailed the perfect system a rare feat,” said Sreetosh Goswami, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc, who led the research team.

The newly developed platform can perform complex tasks on personal devices like laptops and smartphones. “These developments are currently restricted to resource-heavy data centres, due to a lack of energy-efficient hardware. With silicon electronics nearing saturation, designing brain-inspired accelerators that can work alongside silicon chips to deliver faster, more efficient AI is also becoming crucial,” read the IISc release. The platform developed drastically cuts down both, time and energy involved, making calculations a lot faster and easier.

“This project brought together the precision of electrical engineering with the creativity of chemistry, letting us control molecular kinetics very precisely inside an electronic circuit powered by nanosecond voltage pulses,” explained Sreebrata Goswami, Visiting Professor at CeNSE.

Tapping into these tiny molecular changes, allowed the team to create a highly precise and efficient neuromorphic accelerator, which can store and process data within the same location, similar to the human brain. Such accelerators can seamlessly be integrated with silicon circuits to boost their performance and energy efficiency.

The team also turned this scientific discovery into a technological feat. They were able to recreate NASA’s iconic ‘Pillars of Creation’ image from the James Webb Space Telescope data – created by a supercomputer using just a tabletop computer. They were also able to do this at a fraction of the time and energy that traditional computers would need.

The researchers believe that this breakthrough could be one of India’s biggest leaps in AI hardware, putting the country on the map of global innovation. Navakanta Bhat, Professor at CeNSE said, “In the context of the India Semiconductor Mission, this development could revolutionise industrial, consumer and strategic applications. The national importance of such research cannot be overstated.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)