IndustreeOwl and Home of Leaders, Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation conducted a 2-day experiential Hands-on workshop on Robotics named ROBOTRIX on September 05 and 06, 2023, in collaboration with OSSEB, a Hyderabad-based company focused on providing students with relevant skillset according to industry demands. The workshop witnessed the presence of Mr Mohammad Abdul Khayyum, Chief Executive Officer of OSSEB, and Mr Ashish Kumar, who assumed the role of mentor for the two-day event. The guest mentors attended the workshop on behalf of OSSEB, signifying their active engagement and commitment to the workshop’s primary objective to provide students with essential knowledge as a crucial stepping stone for their future endeavours.

The workshop was conducted on the topic “Hands-on Experience on Android Controlled Robotics and Bluetooth Communications”. Students were encouraged to develop their own robots that could be controlled via their Android Phone’s Bluetooth. 139 students registered for the workshop out of which 122 people attended the 2-Day hands-on workshop with many participants registering on-spot. The students were eager to participate and learn about Robotics. Out of 122, almost 50 per cent of the participants were from the NRI Institute of Technology, Vijayawada.

The Workshop also included sessions on the basics of electronics and robotics where students were made to understand the concepts like Flow of Current in a battery, Motors, etc. along with the laws of Robotics and their applications. Insight into how, in the near future Robotics will ally with Artificial Intelligence to give a new shape to the world, was also discussed. This was followed by a session on hands-on activities where participants were formally instructed in the intricacies of programming the robot to facilitate its operational functionality and how to connect to the Robot with the help of the kit provided by OSSEB with their Code.

An Eminent Guest lecture featuring Shri J A Chowdhury, former ISRO scientist, Technological Leader and innovator who has been contributing to the development of the Indian IT industry for more than 35 years was conducted on the grand occasion of Teacher’s Day. He shared his professional experience including his understanding of Robotics and how it will be pivotal in shaping the future. Shri J A Chowdhury along with Mr Udayan Bakshi, Associate Director and Mr Sundhar Singh, Manager-Outreach, Directorate of Entrepreneurship & Innovation inaugurated the Robotrix poster symbolising this momentous Workshop.

A Presentation Competition was spontaneously conducted by the IndustreeOwl team aimed at actively involving the students and fostering their practical application of the newly acquired knowledge. Pallavi Madala and Fadzai Ethel Muchina from SRM University-AP secured the first and second prize respectively.

The second day saw a continuation of hands-on training where participants were taught to develop the code for controlling the movement of the Robot. They were also taught about Bluetooth Communications and were urged to install an application in their phone which will be pivotal in controlling the Robot. The session was followed by a Quiz Competition that saw the participation of more than 100 students. Yaswanth Dhulipalla from SRM University-AP bagged the first prize, whereas Saikeerthi Aluri and Punuru Varsha Reddy from SRM University-AP won the second and third prizes respectively.

The event successfully concluded with a speech and vote of thanks by Mr Udayan Bakshi where he urged the students to continue moving forward in their Robotics journey with the help of the kits and the mentors from OSSEB. He also felicitated the guests and mentors from OSSEB and the team of IndustreeOwl for the smooth conduction of the Workshop.

The workshop has not only met but exceeded its objective of imparting students with a foundational understanding of Robots and Robot Design. This newly acquired knowledge will undoubtedly serve as a solid stepping stone for them in their future endeavours, equipping them with valuable skills and insights that will open up exciting opportunities and possibilities in the world of robotics and design.

Sauri, the woman leadership and entrepreneurship student community of SRM University-AP, in association with the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation conducted a Workshop on Sustainable Development on March 01, 2023 to promote an insightful discourse on SDGs and develop strategies advocating green development. The workshop was an ideal platform facilitating knowledge and insight into the challenges on formulating a development plan that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Student presentations on the problem statements regarding Sustainable development were a major highlight of the workshop.

The Chief Guest of the workshop Mrs Ramya Krishna Burisetty gave a brief description and a presentation regarding her startup venture and sustainable development. She also gave a comprehensive overview on her journey, background work, ideology behind her startup, ways to build start-ups and the technology of fortifying foods. Being a women entrepreneur, she also motivated students by providing them with guidelines for the funding sources available for women entrepreneurs.

The workshop was attended by 350+ students from various colleges. Students from VVIT, VIT-AP, VR Siddhartha Engineering College, NRI Institute Of Technology and KL University actively participated in multiple activities organised as part of the workshop. A quiz was conducted as well as presentations based on their ideas on the given problem statements. Mr Dinesh and team from VVIT bagged the first prize and Ms Sindhuja from SRM AP took home the second prize in the quiz competition. The third prize was awarded to two teams, Mr Eeshwar from NRIIT and Ms Ridhi from SRM AP. The students gained knowledge about how to build a startup keeping in mind the goals of Sustainable development. The top five participants with high scores and accuracy were also awarded with deserving prizes.