Not just for science buffs

The three-day ongoing Tech Fest at IIT Bombay offers the perfect platform to watch the science and technology spectacle put together by students, scientists, researchers and professionals in the field for science enthusiasts. Known as the largest Science and Technology festival with more than 2,500 colleges from India and 500 colleges from across the world in attendance, the fest will close on December 18.

The fest includes various events ranging from Initiatives, Competitions, Workshops, TechFest World MUN, Workshops, Lectures, Technoholix to Ozone. The crowd puller on day two of the fest was Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to go to space. Reliving his experience of the adventure, the tests he had to clear, and the adjustments he had to undergo for zero gravity, he inspired and enthralled the audience.

Researchers had a field day as notable scientists Peter Atkins (University of Oxford), David Baker (Bio chemist and Computational Biologist) and Shamit Kachru (Stanford University and SLAC) gave a peek into the research in their fields. Mark Papermaster (Chief Technology Officer at AMD, Former Senior Vice President at Apple) spoke about the advancement of computers and technology, hybrid Augmented and Virtual reality, and also the dawn of machines with human intuition.

Not just that, students actively participated in battling with the robots in 'Robo Wars', in finding the shortest path in the maze with your robot in 'Meshflare' , in cracking quantum codes in 'Quantum Code', and designing drones in 'Skylark'. But not all games needed 'brains'. Laser tag, go Karting, paintball and mechanical bull lightened the otherwise geeky, nerdy science atmosphere.

What the fest really does is offer opportunities for research into varied fields – agriculture, maritime engineering and solar energy power. Institutions and universities from around the world showcased their innovation in the exhibitions. Most innovations and workshops at the fest focused on the rise of robotics and its increasing influence on human life. Here's a glimpse:

Hyperloop India

It is an initiative by the students of BITS Pilani, ISB and IIM to recreate Tesla's futuristic train for India. The Hyperloop is essentially a futuristic train, a mode of passenger and freight transportation that propels a pod-like vehicle through a near-vacuum tube at airline speeds. This would make train travelling a lot shorter and quicker.

Quimesis Robotic Engineering (Belgium)

Robots helping us in our day-to-day work may seem like a distant dream but Quimesis is making it come true for its clients. Picking golf balls on the golf course, mowing the lawn, cleaning solar panels, or measuring the height and width of trees, the robot is at your service.

Team Spark (Bangladesh)

A smart chair for the disabled to move around, voice control and a virtual reality games, the Bangladeshis have a lot on their plate. Their smart house security system to ensure safety of the house received an award at the 'Internet of Things' competition at the ongoing fest.

Sleepy Camera (ETH Zurich)

Andrawes and Jaskirat of ETH Zurich University have invented the Sleepy Camera, a low power image censor that takes pictures and analyses it. For example, it senses the faintest of the movements, so if a machine stops functioning it sends a report, thus playing the vigilant in your absence.

Internet of Things competition

As part of the Internet of Things competition, students of AMIE created a smart crow, which not only drives away birds but also gives regular updates about the field, crops and the weather. The scarecrow with laser lights and camera could be revolutionary for the farmer, which is why the team bagged the first prize at the Internet of Things competition at the fest.

'With U'

'With U' is a smart sole with a GPS censor tracking. Send an SOS through the shoe and your loved ones will receive your location to make sure of your safety.

Matsya- the underwater vehicle

Matsya, an autonomous underwater vehicle is a submarine that intends to change maritime engineering. The submarine is a prototype, which can be developed to be used for exploring dangerous places underwater with risk of human loss. The team won the second prize in the international Robo Sub competition held in San Diego.

The bionic arm

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University of Russia has developed a bionic arm to help those without arms. It works from a single motor for all the fingers. The battery-controlled arm provides a great amount of precision possible to the disabled.