26/11 hits IIT Techfest as sponsors back out

More than 20 competitions will be organised this year at Techfest with a prize money worth over Rs 15 lakh at stake. Techfest is divided into different sections depending on the type of competition. There is Crypt-o-logic dealing with computer science events, Dimensions, comprising events related to various unexplored fields like CFD, Design, Techtronics involving competitions related to high end autonomous robotics and Xcelerate with robotic competitions .

The major attractions at Techfest would be Micromouse, in which the challenge will be to solve a maze and reach a point with an autonomous robot in the least possible time and Full Throttle, another competition that will involve building a remote-controlled IC engine car to cover an off road track in the least possible time.

A unique event being organised this year at Techfest- Artbots, promises to be different. Participants will be expected to look at robots as a piece of art and not as a machine that performs complex tasks. They will have to create art themselves through music, dance, paintings or any such field that may be regarded as art.

For the first time Techfest conducted one of its competitions outside India at the University of Moratuwa – Sri Lanka and also at Dubai. The competition iNexus dealt with the upcoming field of legged robots. “Legged robots are a somewhat recent innovation in robotics, graduating from the usual wheeled robots and taking a step closer towards bearing a resemblance to the living animals. This legs-over-wheels approach is useful in all-terrain purposes as legs are more effective in an uneven environment than wheels,” added Shintre.

Besides the competitions, Techfest 2009 will feature some world class research exhibits from Wired Nextfest and Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, UK in one of the largest exhibitions of its kind in the country. Also present would be noted scientists and faculty members from various universities across the world to participate in a Lecture Series at Techfest 2009.