IIT Ropar’s AWaDH and Khalsa College of Engineering & Technology, Amritsar to launch Cyber-Physical Systems in Punjab
Bahadurjit Singh/Rupnagar/ December 12,2024
Innovation and technical education took center stage as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar’s iHub-AWaDH, in collaboration with Khalsa College of Engineering & Technology (KCET), Amritsar, inaugurated the AWaDH Cyber-Physical Systems Lab under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM ICPS), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. This initiative represents a significant step forward in advancing technical education and fostering innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS).
The event began with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the initiation of a journey towards innovation and excellence. Dr. Manju Bala, Director of KCET, Amritsar, provided introductory remarks and welcomed the Chief Guest of the occasion Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina (Honorary Secretary of the Khalsa College Charitable Society) and Guest of Honour Dr. Jatinder Kaur (Former Executive Director of the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST)), Dr.Radhika Trikha (Chief Executive Officer, IIT Ropar – TIF), Aatif Jamal (Senior Manager, IIT Ropar – I’m TIF), Desh Raj Dhiman (Project Manager, IIT Ropar- TIF), Ashutosh Kumar (Firmware Engineer, IIT Ropar – TIF), Vikas Kumar (Hardware Engineer, IIT Ropar – TIF), Parry Sood (Programme Manager, IIT Ropar – TIF) and Sonia Sharma (Young Professional, IIT Ropar – TIF).
The Chief Guest for the occasion, Dr. Rajinder Mohan Singh Chinna, Honorary Secretary, Khalsa College under the Khalsa College Charitable Society, Amritsar, and Pro Chancellor, Khalsa University, Amritsar, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized the importance of fostering technical skills and research in emerging technologies like CPS, which are integral to modern education and innovation.
Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora, Former Executive Director of Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST), delivered a special address, highlighting the lab’s potential to transform the educational landscape in the region, and spoke about the growing importance of IoT technologies and Cyber-Physical Systems in today’s technological ecosystem.
Dr. Radhika Trikha, CEO of iHub-AWaDH, presented and launched a video detailing the AWaDH CPS Lab initiative. She outlined the lab’s vision to act as a platform for education, research, prototyping, testing, and collaboration. The AWaDH CPS Lab at KCET is equipped with advanced IoT kits developed by IIT Ropar, offering a 24/7 plug-and-play module for hands-on experimentation. The facility also features cutting-edge resources, including:
- Voltera V-One circuit prototyping machines.
- Gateway, BLE Development Kit, and BLE Node.
- Low Power Camera Module.
- Air Sense and Weather Pro environmental monitoring tools.
- AI & ML workstations provided by Terafac Technologies Pvt Ltd.
- Various sensors for environmental activities.
Following the inauguration, the Project Manager, Desh Raj, along with the technical team, provided a guided tour of the lab, showcasing its cutting-edge facilities. The lab will play a pivotal role in joint training initiatives such as ‘train the trainers’ and ‘train the students’ modules, offering both theoretical and practical insights into CPS technologies.
This state-of-the-art lab is set to integrate CPS into the curriculum at KCET, promoting a culture of innovation and technical excellence in the Amritsar region. It will serve as a hub for skill development, offering training programs tailored to empower graduates, researchers, faculty, and startups.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort between KCET, IIT Ropar’s iHub-AWaDH, and other stakeholders. This initiative is poised to empower students and professionals with the skills required to thrive in the evolving landscape of CPS and IoT.
