IIT Madras CFI Students Impress Industry and Investors at Open House; Check Highlights of ‘IITM for All’

IITM for All: During the 16th annual Open House organised by IIT Madras, over 1,000 students presented 76 innovative projects, demonstrating their latest technological advancements to the general public. Check the highlights here.

Students from the Centre for Innovation (CFI) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras showcased their latest technological developments to the public at the 16th annual Open House held on March 3, 2024. The event aimed to exhibit groundbreaking innovations by IIT Madras students to industry experts, investors, and alumni. 

Over 1,000 students displayed 76 projects, featuring innovations such as a solar-powered race car, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the delivery of blood and medical supplies, a metal 3D printer powered by ultrasonic sound, and a wearable device designed to aid in the movement of paralysed fingers, among others.

Highlights of IITM for All

The highlights of the ‘IITM for All’ expo included a Robotics lab, Biomedical Engineering labs, Rockets and missile laboratory, Ballistic and High-speed flow labs, 360 Degree Full Bridge ship Simulator, Electric Vehicle Fun Event, Cardiovascular Genetics Lab and 3D printing facilities, among others. Some of the notable projects showcased during CFI Open House 2024 include: 

• An Assistive Device to help in mobility for visually challenged persons
• A reusable sounding rocket
• A wearable tool that helps people with paralyzed fingers
• Solar-powered race car
• An application to simplify the travel planning process
• Ultrasonic sound-powered metal 3D printer
• Fixed-wing UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) for delivering blood, medical and emergency items
• An Autonomous underwater vehicle for oceanographic exploration
• A Braille book emulator

IIT Madras Open House 2024

In addition, the institute also organised the Institute Open House 2024 on March 2 and 3, 2024, as part of the ‘Anaivarukkum IITM’ (IITM for all) initiative, opening its advanced labs to the public. This annual expo featured over 100 laboratories where researchers shared their ongoing work with visitors, aiming to broaden public understanding of the latest technologies through an accessible showcase of the labs and Centres of Excellence (CoEs).

IIT Madras Centre for Innovation (CFI) 

The Centre for Innovation is India’s largest student-managed 24/7 innovation lab, encompassing 14 clubs and seven competitive teams. It equips students with funding opportunities and cutting-edge resources like 3D printers, laser cutters, and electronics workstations. To date, CFI has been the birthplace of over 100 patents and numerous student-initiated start-ups, with ventures spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, electronics, and other tech-centric industries.

Congratulating the students on developing innovative technologies, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, “CFI is among the most vibrant bodies of IIT Madras. In my opinion, CFI is going to be the game changer in the complete landscape of how education must be for the next-gen India. As we aspire to become a technology superpower by 2047, we need more employers than employees and for that, we need lots of ideas.”

Elaborating on the importance of bodies like CFI in nurturing innovation, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Advisor (Innovation and Entrepreneurship), IIT Madras, said, “The CFI, along with Nirmaan Pre-Incubator, play a pivotal in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students. CFI provides students with hands-on experiences and mentorship opportunities, empowering them to transform their ideas into impactful solutions that address real-world challenges.”

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