Indian Institute of Technology Mandi recently hosted an Open House to exhibit the prototypes and models developed by second-year B.Tech students as part of the IC201: Design Practicum course. The event aimed to provide a platform for young innovators to showcase their projects and entrepreneurial spirit.

Design Practicum course at IIT Mandi is curated to nurture entrepreneurship by providing students with hands-on experience in solving real-world problems. Under the guidance of faculty mentors, students develop prototypes and models addressing real-world challenges. This year, students tackled problem statements across various themes, including:

• Ease of Doing
• Future Tech
• Healthcare
• IIT Mandi Community
• Indian Armed Forces
• Sustainability

The projects were collaboratively developed by teams comprising students from various engineering disciplines, ensuring a diverse and multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. Each group received Rs. 30,000 in funding to facilitate the manufacturing of their prototypes, with guidance and expertise provided by faculty mentors specializing in their respective domains.

Consequently, a total of 53 projects were showcased to an array of key officials, including:

• Air Force Officers
• Industrial Expert from Medical Instrument Manufacturer
• Industrial Expert from the Automotive Industry
• Medical practitioner from AIIMS Bilaspur
• Experts from start-up incubators/funding agencies

Among the showcased projects, the top three were awarded a grant of Rs. 2.5 lakh each from IIT Mandi Catalyst to further develop their projects and pursue entrepreneurship opportunities. These included:

• Deep Learning-Based 3D Camera: This is a handheld camera that can provide a 3D scan of objects with a precision of 0.1 mm. Its cost is very low, approximately 10 times lower than the currently available 3D scanners. Also, it is highly portable, which allows the scanning of objects placed in compact spaces. The practical applications lie in reverse engineering.
• Aircraft Laser Harmonization: This is a laser-based technique for calibrating the aircraft’s target viewing window. The technique works by simultaneously using laser guidance and image visualisation to calibrate the target points. This method saves a lot of time compared to the current practice of manual calibration. Also, the laser guidance system enhances the precision of target calibration.

• Ground Inhibition Rig for Aircraft: This is small-scale equipment for wet cranking aircraft engines. The device is highly portable and allows setting up a specific torque and rpm based on the aircraft’s wet cranking requirement. Because of this, the same device can be used for wet-cranking engines from multiple aircraft.

Commenting on the event, Dr. Atul Dhar, Chairperson, School of School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, IIT Mandi, said, “The Design Practicum is the stepping stone of the E³ Culture: Engineering and Economics leading to Entrepreneurship. It shows the institute’s commitment towards developing future entrepreneurs. For sure, the 30 patent files in this year’s Design Practicum will lead to excellent entrepreneurial opportunities for the young innovators.”

Aligned with the guidelines of the National Education Policy 2020, IIT Mandi’s curriculum is strategically designed to empower students to graduate as entrepreneurs. This journey commences in the second year with the “Design Practicum” course, where students initiate their projects. In the third year, these projects can be further developed through the “Young Innovator Fellowship,” offering course credits and additional funding of up to Rs. 15000 per month for project or start-up development. Finally, in the fourth year, students can continue their entrepreneurial endeavours through their “Major Technical Project,” culminating in their graduation as entrepreneurs.

With such initiatives, IIT Mandi continues to nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, empowering students to make meaningful contributions to society.