Swarm robotics hogs limelight at NDA Expo

Demonstrating the set-up,Cadet S S Salaria,a second-term cadet of the Alpha Squadron,said,“The machines are called swarm robots,a name derived from nature that signifies a collective approach. These robots work together in a formation to reach the target assigned by the operator.” The other team members include Cadet Rishabh Mehra,a 5th term Army cadet from Bravo Squadron and Vikas Shondilya of the fourth term from the Foxtrot Squadron.

While the club has 35-40 members from across squadrons,courses and services,the core team of about five worked with Dr Ashwani Kumar,assistant professor,Physics for nearly 5 months to develop a system that has three robots in the present case and Zigbees,small components that send aerial signals to the robots,a computer and a camera that serves as a local GPS.

“On a given area,the camera acts as the GPS and provides the positions of the robots to the computer. The operator who controls the computer assigns the target to which the robots align and approach in response to signals. The Zigbees generate signals based on input commands. Zigbees mediate between the operator and the robots,” Kumar said. The Army uses ROVs developed by the DRDO in alliance with private industries such as ROV Daksh. The team members feel their project has the potential to be improvised. “We plan to develop aerial robots on the lines of UAVs that hopefully will attract attention at the next Expo,” Kumar said.

NDA Expo coincides with the Passing out Parade,and has the objective of displaying creative talent of NDA cadets. The exhibition was inaugurated by the first lady of NDA,Ranjeet Gill,wife of NDA Commandant Air Marshal KS Gill.